GB2424204A

GB2424204A - Surface impactor

Info

Publication number: GB2424204A
Application number: GB0505555A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicolas Adam Wilson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-03-18
Filing date: 2005-03-18
Publication date: 2006-09-20
Also published as: GB0505555D0

Abstract

A surface impactor device 10 for impacting a ground surface and/or a construction surface as herein defined, comprises an elongate surface contacting element 12 and an elongate impact element 14 manually slidable relative to the surface contacting element 12. The surface contacting element 12 is urgeable in a first direction by the impact element 14 when slid relative to the surface contacting element 12. A method of impacting a ground surface and/or a construction surface using a surface impactor device 10 is also provided. The contracting element preferably comprises an interchangeable tip 20, which tip 20 includes a point for breaking a surface, or a plate for tamping a surface.

Description

SURFACE IMPACTOR

The present invention relates to a surface impactor device, and to a method of impacting a ground surface and/or a construction surface using such a device.

The use of the term ground surface' herein throughout means any surface forming the ground, such as, but not limited to, earth, stone, rock, soil, rubble, concrete, asphalt, tarmac.

The use of the term construction surface' herein throughout means any surface formed by construction techniques, such as, but not limited to, surfaces found in building structures and free-standing structures. The construction surface' can be horizontal, vertical or any angle therebetween.

Hydraulic and pneumatic impactor devices are well known. These also commonly called breakers and jack hammers. However, these devices are extremely cumbersome, expensive, and dangerous. They are also limited in range by the trailing hoses required for operation, and extremely noisy.

Hydraulic and pneumatic impactor devices are advantageous when requiring extensive surface breaking. However, are troublesome and time consuming when only a small amount of surface impacting is required, such as, for example, when installing one or a small number of fence posts. In this situation, often a trades person will utilise an elongate metal pole with a pointed end, or even a spade and/or fork to manually break up the surface to the required depth.

Aside from the fact that using such a metal pole, spade or fork can be extremely physically demanding, the requirement of lifting the device away from the surface being broken results in a slightly different point of impact each time, and consequently wasted effort.

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to these problems.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a surface impactor device for impacting a ground surface and/or a construction surface, the device comprising an elongate surface contacting element and an elongate impact element manually slidable relative to the surface contacting element, the surface contacting element being urgeable in a first direction by the impact element being slid relative to the surface contacting element.

Preferable and/or optional features of the first aspect of the invention are set forth in claims 2 to 10, inclusive.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of impacting a ground surface and/or a construction surface using a surface impactor device in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the method comprising the steps of: a) positioning a surface contacting end of the surface contacting element on the said surface; b) manually sliding the impact element to assume a first condition in which the surface contacting element and the impact element are extended relative to each other; and c) sliding the impact element to assume a second condition in which the surface contacting element and the impact element are retracted relative to the first condition; on assuming the second condition, the impact element imparting an urging force to the surface contacting element to urge the surface contacting end in a direction of the said surface.

Preferable and/or optional features of the second aspect of the invention are set forth in claims 13 to 17, inclusive.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure la is a front view of one embodiment of a surface impactor device, in one condition and in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure lb is a front view of the surface impactor device, in another condition; Figure 2 is a side view of the impactor device shown in Figure la / ib; Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a catch mechanism of the impactor device shown in Figure Ia! ib; Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the catch mechanism of the impact device as shown in Figure 2; Figure 5 is an enlarged view of one end of an impact element of the impactor device, as shown in Figure Ia / ib; and Figure 6 is a top plan view of the one end of the impact element.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a surface impactor device 10 which comprises an elongate surface contacting element 12 and an elongate impact element 14 from which the surface contacting element 12 projects. The surface contacting element 12 has a rectilinear longitudinal axis and a cross-section which, when taken perpendicularly to a major portion of a longitudinal extent, is circular or substantially circular. However, one end 16 of the surface contacting element 12, which also constitutes a first end 18 of the impactor device 10, tapers to a point 20.

The impact element 14 is rectilinear, uniformly tubular and has a generally quadrilaterally shaped transverse cross-section. More specifically, a cross-section taken perpendicularly to the longitudinal extent of the impact element 14 is square with internal corners having a radius, as can be appreciated in Figure 6.

The elongate surface contacting element 12 is slidably received in the tubular impact element 14. To hold the surface contacting element 12 centrally within the impact element 14, a bottom plate assembly 22 having a centrally positioned aperture 24 in which the surface contacting element 12 can run closes an end 26 of the impact element 14 which lies partway between ends 18 and 46 of the impactor device 10. One or more guide elements 28 are also provided in spaced relationship on the surface contacting element 12, adjacent to an impact end 30 which is opposite the pointed end 16. The or each guide element 28 is dimensioned to be slidably receivable in the tubular impact element 14. The bottom plate assembly 22 and the or each guide element 28 maintain the longitudinal axes of the impact element 14 and the surface contacting element 12 in coaxial or substantially coaxial alignment.

The bottom plate assembly 22 includes a plate fastening member 32 secured in the tubular impact element 14 by two screw-threaded fasteners 34 which extend through opposite side waIls 36 of the impact element 14; a bottom plate 38; and two further screw-threaded fasteners 40 which extend in an axial direction of the impact element 14 and secure the bottom plate 38 to the plate fastening member 32. The bottom plate 38 and the plate fastening member 32 have circular openings 42 which coaxially align to form the previously mentioned centrally positioned aperture 24.

Although screw-threaded fasteners 34, 40 are used, thus allowing removal of the bottom plate assembly 22 for repair or replacement purposes, any suitable means for centralising the running of the surface contacting element 12 can be used. In this case, although it is preferable to close the bottom end 26 of the impact element 14, to prevent dirt from entering and the surface contacting element 12 from sliding out of the impact element 14, only a plurality of the said guide elements 28 formed on the surface contacting element 12 could be utilised.

The other end 44 of the impact element 14, which also forms the second end 46 of the impactor device 10, is filly closed by an impact plate 48 welded or otherwise secured thereto. When the surface contacting element 12 is positioned in the tubular impact element 14, the impact end 30 of the surface contacting element 12 can abut the impact plate 48 of the impact element 14.

To allow the surface contacting element 12 to be releasably held stationary or substantially stationary relative to the impact element 14, a catch assembly 50 (Figures 3 and 4) is provided at or adjacent to the second end 46 of the impactor device 10. The catch assembly 50 includes a bracket 52 provided on one side wall 36 of the impact element 14, a catch element 54 in the form of an elongate pin which is supported for slidable reciprocating movement into and out of the impact element 14 by the bracket 52, and a lever 56 having a cam form 58. The lever 56 is pivotably attached, for example using a split pin 59, adjacent to an outer end 60 of the catch element 54 so that, in a first position, an inner end 62 of the catch element 54 extends into the interior of the tubular impact element 14 and, in a second position and due to the cam form 58, the catch element 54 is retracted from the interior of the impact element 14. When the lever 56 assumes the first position (see Figure Ia), a guide element 28 on the contacting element 12 abuts the catch element 54, preventing the surface contacting element 12 from extending further from the impact element 14. In this condition, the impactor device 10 can be safely transported and/or repositioned. Typically, the contacting element 12 is thus held stationary or substantially stationary relative to the impact element 14 by the catch element 54.

The impactor device 10 also includes two handles 64 provided symmetrically or substantially symmetrically on opposite side walls 36 of the impact element 14. In this embodiment, the longitudinal extent of each handle 64 is parallel with the longitudinal extent of the impact element 14. Each handle 64 is mounted to the impact element 14 on a bracket 66 at each end. Each handle 64 is connected to a respective bracket 66 using a screw-threaded fastener 68. A shock-absorbing assembly 70 is interposed between each bracket 66 and the end of each handle 64. In this case, each shock-absorbing assembly includes a rubber mounting 72 interposed between one end of the handle 64 and the bracket 66, and a thick rubber washer 74 interposed between the head of the screw- threaded fastener 68 and the bracket 66. In this way, vibration transmitted from the surface contacting element 12 and the impact element 14 is damped or eliminated before reaching the handles 64.

Obviously, other types or arrangements of handles can be used, such as, for example, handles which project perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly from the impact element 14. It is also envisaged that only a single handle could be used, or more than two handles could be provided. In the former case, the handle could, for example, form a closed or broken ring. Although not as preferable, the or each handle could be dispensed with and the impact element 14 could itself simply be grasped.

In use, the surface to be broken is determined. The pointed end 16 of the surface contacting element 12 of the impactor device 10 is placed at a selected point on the surface to be broken. During use, as will be understood hereinafter, the pointed end 16 of the surface contacting element 12 remains in contact with the surface being broken, and at the said selected point, at all times.

The lever 56 of the catch assembly 50 is operated to withdraw the catch element 54 and to release the surface contacting element 12. The handles 64 are grasped by the or each user and the impact element 14 is raised upwards, consequently resulting in the surface contacting element 12 sliding along the tubular interior of the impact element 14. The impactor device 10 thus assumes a first condition (Figure Ib) in which the impact element 14 and the surface contacting element 12 are telescopically extended relative to each other. The impact element 14 is then forcibly slid downwards, by the or each user and with the assistance of gravity, along the surface contacting element 12, until the impactor device 10 assumes a second retracted condition (Figure Ia) relative to the first condition. The impact plate 48 of the impact element 14 sharply contacts the impact end 30 of the surface contacting element 12, and the resultant force imparted to the impact end 30 of the surface contacting element 12 is transmitted to the pointed end 16, which is thus driven into the surface to be broken.

The impact element 14 is then raised so that the impactor device 10 again assumes the first condition, and the process is repeated until the surface is sufficiently broken.

During use, due to the handles 64 extending in parallel with the impact element 14, the or each user can allow the handles 64 to slide through their grip to a certain extent, thereby further reducing impartation of undesirable vibration to the user's hands and arms.

Although the embodiment described above is intended to break or fracture a ground or construction surface, the pointed end of the surface contacting element can be adapted to accept interchangeable tips. In this case, one tip can be pointed to enable surface breaking / fracturing, while another tip can include a plate, instead of a point, for tamping a ground or construction surface through impact. This is particularly useful when laying small amounts of tarmac or bitumen, such as asphalt. The interchangeable tips can be releasably secured to the end of the surface contacting element using, for example, one or more screw-threaded fasteners. Other interchangeable tips can of course be provided.

The transverse cross-section of both the impact element and the surface contacting element can be any suitable shape.

Any suitable catch assembly can be utilised to prevent or limit undesirable relative movement between the impact element and the surface contacting element.

The impactor device can take any suitable size. For example, a large and reasonably heavy version can be utilised by one or multiple users impacting a horizontal or substantially horizontal surface. However, a smaller and relatively lighter version can be utilised if, for example, the surface to be impacted is vertical or at a steep angle and the impactor device has to be used horizontally or substantially horizontally.

It is envisaged that additional mass can be releasably securable to the impact element depending on the required use. In this case, the user can decided how heavy or light the impactor device should be for a given situation.

It is possible that the impact element can be a channel, instead of tubular, providing the surface contacting element is constrained from moving laterally out of the channel.

It is thus possible to provide a surface impactor device which is solely manually operable, and thus completely portable without restriction. It is also possible to provide a surface impactor device which is inexpensive, and simple and quick to use. Since the end of the surface contacting element remains in contact with the surface being impacted at all times, force is transmitted to the same point on the surface each time, resulting in efficient utilisation of effort. Furthermore, since the end of the surface contacting element is not raised from the surface being impacted, safety is greatly increased. By providing a surface impacting device with interchangeable tips, the utility of the device is greatly enhanced at an extremely low cost.

The embodiments described above are given by way of examples only, and further modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

I. A surface impactor device for impacting a ground surface and/or a construction surface, the device comprising an elongate surface contacting element and an elongate impact element manually slidable relative to the surface contacting element, the surface contacting element being urgeable in a first direction by the impact element being slid relative to the surface contacting element.
2. A surface impactor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the surface contacting element and the impact element are slidable telescopically.
3. A surface impactor device as claimed in claim I or claim 2, wherein a surface contacting end of the surface contacting element extends beyond the impact element.
4. A surface impactor device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein an impact end of the surface contacting element travels along the impact element, and contacts a striking portion of the impact element.
5. A surface impactor device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the impact element includes one or more handles or grips.
6. A surface impactor device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the or each handle or grip extends in parallel or substantially in parallel with a longitudinal extent of the impact element.
7. A surface impactor device as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein two handles or grips are provided, symmetrically or substantially symmetrically positioned about the impact element.
8. A surface impactor device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a catch element for releasably holding the surface contacting element stationary relative to the impact element.
9. A surface impactor device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the surface contacting element comprises an interchangeable tip.
10. A surface impactor device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the tip includes a point for breaking or fracturing a surface; or a plate for tamping a surface.
11. A surface impactor device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
12. A method of impacting a ground surface and/or a construction surface using a surface impactor device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the steps of: a) positioning a surface contacting end of the surface contacting element on the said surface; b) manually sliding the impact element to assume a first condition in which the surface contacting element and the impact element are extended relative to each other; and c) sliding the impact element to assume a second condition in which the surface contacting element and the impact element are retracted relative to the first condition; on assuming the second condition, the impact element imparting an urging force to the surface contacting element to urge the surface contacting end in a direction of the said surface.
13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein, in step (c), the sliding of the impact element to assume the second condition is gravity assisted.
14. A method as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the method is a method of breaking or fracturing the said surface, and the surface contacting end of the surface contacting element includes a point.
15. A method as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the method is a method of tamping the said surface, and the surface contacting end of the surface contacting element includes a plate.
16. A method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the said surface is horizontal or substantially horizontal.
17. A method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the said surface is vertical or substantially vertical.