GB2140842A

GB2140842A - Finned post socket for driving into the ground

Info

Publication number: GB2140842A
Application number: GB08405459A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence Roland Dunn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-03-07
Filing date: 1984-03-01
Publication date: 1984-12-05
Also published as: GB8405459D0

Abstract

The hollow steel box section socket 10 has 3 or more steel fins 14. Socket 10 extends lengthwise for the full extent of each fin. Each fin, at least at its top, extends outwards for a distance greater than the maximum external transverse dimension of the socket. The fins may taper towards the lower end of the socket which has a downwardly tapered nose. The span of two opposite fins may at least equal the length of each fin. The fins may be rectangular or triangular. The socket may be formed of margins of steel plates the remaining parts of which form the fins; or the fins may be welded to the socket. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Post anchor The invention relates to post anchors. Various kinds of post anchor are already known. For example, an anchor having a socket to which a spike is attached. Such anchors do not offer very much stability in use. In another example the socket has parts which, after the socket has been driven into the ground, are deflected outwardly by driving the post into the socket.

The aim of the invention is to provide a post anchor which offers greater stability in use than the first-mentioned known kind of anchor and which does not require deflection of its parts after insertion in the ground.

A post anchor, according to the invention comprises an elongate hollow steel socket to receive a post inserted at an upper end of the socket, the socket having at least three fixed external fins arranged about the socket and the socket extending lengthwise for the full length of each fin and each fin at least at its upper end extending away from the socket a distance greater than the maximum external transverse dimension of the socket.

In one form of anchor according to the invention the socket is a preformed member to which the fins are secured by welding.

In another form of anchor according to the invention the fins are parts of respective plates arranged so that corresponding marginal portions of the plates form the socket, an edge of each plate bounding the respective marginal portion being secured to the marginal portion of an adjacent plate by welding.

Preferably each fin is in the shape of a right triangle, the hypotenuse edges of the fins converging towards the lower end of the socket.

Two forms of post anchor will now be described by way of example to illustrate the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 are, respectively, a side elevation and a plan of one form of post anchor; and Figures 3 and 4 are, respectively, a side elevation and a plan of a second form of a post anchor.

The post anchor shown in Figs. 1 and 2 consists of an elongate, hollow socket 10 in the form of a mild-steel pre-formed, square box-section stock. In this example, the wall thickness of the socket 10 is 3 millimeters and the external dimensions are 38 mm x 38 mm. The socket 10 has an open upper end 1 2 to receive a closely-fitting post (not shown) which is also of mild-steel hollow box-section stock. The socket 10 has four fixed mild-steel fins 14 symmetrically arranged about the socket 10.Each fin 14 is a piece of plate for example 2 mm thick and is in the shape of a right triangle and the hypotenuse edges 1 6 of the fins 14 converge towards the lower end of the socket 10. Each fin 14 is secured to an external face of the socket 10 by tack welding so that the socket 10 is symmetrically positioned centrally of the cruciform arrangement of the fins 14.

The socket 10 has a nose 18 in the form of a piece of angle-iron which is welded at the ends of its limbs to the lower edges of opposite walls of the socket 10.

Before the anchor is driven into the ground, a length of pre-formed box-section of the same kind as used to form the socket 10 is driven into the ground and withdrawn. A core of earth is removed with the length of tube leaving a hole. Next, the anchor is positioned with the socket 10 aligned with the hole. A dolly (not shown) is used consisting of a mildsteel plate secured on top of a hollow boxsection spigot. The spigot is inserted, with a close fit, in the socket 10 and the plate abuts the top of the socket 10. The dolly is struck with a sledge hammer and the anchor is readily driven into the ground. The fins 14 slice readily through the earth causing little or no displacement of earth. The nose 1 8 prevents loose earth from entering the socket 10.

When the anchor is positioned the post is inserted into the socket 10 through the mouth 1 2. The post can be secured by a bolt passed through a hole 20 in the wall of the socket 10 near the mouth 12. The anchor gives very good stability to the post which is a close fit in the socket 10.

Figs. 3 and 4 show and alternative construction in which no preformed member is used. Instead, there are four equiangularly arranged, mild-steel plates each having an inner oblong marginal portion 30 integral with a portion forming a fin 14. The plates are arranged so that the four marginal portions 30 form the socket 32 corresponding to the socket 10 shown in Figs. 1 and 2. An inner edge 34 of each plate is welded to an adjacent plate. The anchor shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is used similarly to the anchor shown in Figs.

1 and 2.

In other forms of anchor (not shown) according to the invention, the socket is cylindrical or of oblong or triangular transverse section. In another form (not shown) the fins are rectangular instead of triangular. In yet another form (not shown), where the socket is formed of marginal parts of plates, these parts may each be angled to the adjoining fin or may be part-cylindrical form instead of being flat.

Although the size of the fins is a matter of choice, each fin, at least at its upper end, extends away from the socket a distance greater than the maximum external transverse dimension of the socket. For example, as shown in preferred forms in the drawings in the case of an anchor having four triangular fins, the overall span of two opposite fins at their upper ends is substantially equal to the length of each fin in the lengthwise direction of the socket. The span is at least equal to the length of the fins, in preferred forms of the anchor.

Such proportions have been found to give very great stability to posts used to carry estate agents' for-sale notices or posts supporting domestic clothes while drying out of doors. The anchor can be used to support fence and other posts.

In other forms of anchor (not shown) according to the invention there are three fins or more than four fins, the fins preferably being equiangularly spaced.

In yet another form of the anchor (not shown) the socket is of oblong transverse cross-section. For example, it may be sized to receive a wooden post of 76 mm x 101 mm (3 inches x 4 inches). In such forms, if the fins are identical, the span of the two fins on the wider faces of the socket is slightly less than the span of the other two fins. Alternatively, the fins can be dimensioned so that the span of either pair of opposite fins equals the span of the other pair.

Whatever the form of the anchor, it is readily removable from the ground after it has been released by levering action applied to the post.

Claims

1. A post anchor comprising an elongate hollow steel socket to receive a post inserted at an upper end of the socket, the socket having at least three fixed external steel fins arranged about the socket, the socket extending lengthwise for the full length of each fin and each fin at least at its upper and extending away from the socket a distance greater than the maximum external transverse dimension of the socket.

2. An anchor according to claim 1, in which the socket is a preformed member to which the fins are secured by welding.

3. An anchor according to Claim 1, in which the fins are parts of respective plates arranged so that corresponding marginal portions of the plates form the socket, an edge of each plate bounding the respective marginal portion being secured to the marginal portion of an adjacent plate by welding.

4. An anchor according to any preceding Claim, in which each fin is in the shape of a right triangle, the hypotenuse edges of the fins converging towards the lower end of the socket.

5. An anchor according to any preceding Claim, in which the socket has at its lower end a nose which is tapered in the lengthwise direction of the socket away from its lower end.

6. An anchor according to any preceding Claim, in which there are four fins equiangularly spaced about the socket and the span of two opposite fins at least at their upper ends is at least equal to the length of each fin in the lengthwise direction of the socket.

7. An anchor according to Claim 1, substantially as described with reference to Figs.

1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

8. An anchor according to Claim 1, substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.