GB2500295A

GB2500295A - Post holder assembly for a post driver

Info

Publication number: GB2500295A
Application number: GB1300620.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Anthony Brennan; Michael Richard Brennan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-01-13
Filing date: 2013-01-14
Publication date: 2013-09-18
Anticipated expiration: 2033-01-14
Also published as: GB201300620D0; IE87010B1; IE20130006A1; GB2500295B; GB201715666D0

Abstract

A post holder assembly 6 for a post driver (1, figure 1) includes a mounting support 15 having means for attachment to a hammer striker plate 8 or the post driver. A post engaging head 10 is rotatably mounted on the mounting support. The post engaging head may have a circular mounting plate 26 which engages the bottom face of the mounting support, an outer circumferential face (50, figure 3) of the mounting plate slidably engaging a guide 29 which extends downwardly from the bottom face (28, figure 3). There may be an actuator 12 such as a hydraulic ram, provided pivotally engaged with the post engaging head and operable to rotate the head on the striker plate. There may be a post alignment device with a level sensor (34, figure 7) which may be hand held. The sensor may be in communication with a controller which may adjust the mast position.

Description

-1 -

"A Post Driver"

Introduction

5

This invention relates to post drivers.

The invention is particularly concerned with post drivers of the type described in our previous patent applications - Publication Nos. EP 1887167 and EP 2159332.

10

Summary of the Invention

According to the invention, there is provided a post holder assembly for a post driver, including:

15

a mounting support having means for attachment to a hammer striker plate of the post driver, and a post-engaging head rotatably mounted on the mounting support.

20

In one embodiment of the invention, the post-engaging head has a circular mounting plate which engages a bottom face of the mounting support, an outer circumferential face of the mounting plate slidably engaging a guide which extends downwardly from the bottom face of the mounting support.

25

In another embodiment, the guide comprises a pair of arcuate guide collar members on the bottom face of the mounting support.

In a further embodiment, an inner end of the mounting support is demountably 30 engagable with a complementary mounting socket on an underside of the striker plate and a fastener is engagable between the mounting support and the striker plate to secure the mounting support against the underside of the striker plate engaged with the socket for attachment of the mounting support to the striker plate.

-2-

ln another embodiment, a threaded hole is provided in the striker plate for releasably mounting a post impaling spike on the underside of the striker plate.

In another embodiment, an actuator is provided pivotally engaged with the post-5 engaging head and pivotally engagable with the striker plate, said actuator being operable to rotate the post-engaging head on the striker plate.

In another embodiment, the post engaging head comprises a cap plate having at least one post-engaging spike projecting downwardly from a bottom face of the cap 10 plate, an inner end of the cap plate being demountably engagable with a complementary mounting socket on an underside of the striker plate and a fastener is engagable between the cap plate and the striker plate to secure the cap plate against the underside of the striker plate engaged with the socket for attachment of the cap plate to the striker plate.

15

In another embodiment, a plurality of spaced-apart spikes project downwardly from the bottom face of the cap plate.

In another aspect, the invention provides a post holder assembly in combination 20 with a post driver striker plate, said striker plate having a carriage for slidably mounting the striker plate on a post driver mast.

In another embodiment, a latching arm is captured in an associated slot at a side of the striker plate, said latching arm having an eye which is engagable with an 25 associated hook on a side of a hammer mounted on the post driver mast.

In another embodiment, the carriage has a rear wall and side walls extending downwardly from the striker plate, a cross member extending between the side walls in front of the rear wall, the mounting socket on the underside of the striker 30 plate being defined by a top face of the cross member, an underside of the striker plate, a front face of the rear wall and inside faces of the side walls.

In a further embodiment, the actuator is mounted between one of the side walls and the post-engaging head.

-3-

ln another aspect, the invention provides a post driver incorporating the post holder assembly.

5 In a further embodiment, the post driver comprises:

a support frame,

a mast mounted on the support frame and having associated mast 10 positioning controls comprising one or more of an hydraulic top link, a back shift, a side shift, and a mast tilt mechanism,

a striker plate movable on the mast between a raised position and a lowered position,

15

means for urging the striker plate downwardly on the mast for driving a post into the ground,

the post holder assembly being rotatably mounted on an underside of the 20 striker plate.

In another embodiment, the post driver further includes a hand-held post alignment device, said post alignment device having a V-shaped recess for reception of and engagement with a post, a level sensor on the post alignment device in 25 communication with a controller on the post driver, said controller operable to actuate one or more of the mast positioning controls to adjust the mast of the post driver in response to the level sensor for alignment of the post in the ground in use.

In another embodiment the level sensor is connected either directly by a cable, or by 30 radio link with the controller. In another embodiment means is provided for demountably securing the level sensor on the post driver when not in use.

Brief Description of the Drawings

_4-

The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

5 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a post driver according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail - partially exploded, perspective view of an hydraulic cap rotator assembly forming portion of the post driver;

10 Fig. 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the hydraulic cap rotator;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail perspective view showing portion of the post driver;

Fig. 5 is another detail perspective view similar to Fig. 4 showing another 15 position of use;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a cap plate according to the invention;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a hand-held alignment device for use with the 20 post driver;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing portion of the post driver with the handheld alignment device mounted thereon in a stored position;

25 Fig. 9 is another detail perspective view showing the hand-held alignment device mounted on the post-driver; and

Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view showing portion of the post driver.

30 Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1 to 5 thereof, there is illustrated a post driver according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. This is largely similar to the post driver described in our previous patent application -

-5-

publication no. EP 2159332 and for the sake of brevity the general construction and operation of the post driver 1 need not be repeated here in detail. The post driver 1 essentially comprises a support frame 2 carrying a mast 3 on which is mounted a pile driving hammer 4 for driving a post or stake 5 into the ground. The stake 5 is held by 5 a post holder assembly according to the invention comprising an hydraulic cap rotator assembly 6 shown in more detail in Figs. 2 and 3. This essentially comprises a flat hammer striker plate 8 mounted on a carriage 9 which is slidably engagable with the mast 3 and an hydraulic cap rotator 10 rotatably mounted beneath the striker plate 8 and having a socket 11 for reception of a top of the stake 5. A ram 12 mounted on 10 the carriage 9 by pivot pin 14 engages the hydraulic cap rotator 10 and is operable to rotate the cap rotator 10 about a generally vertical axis, or more correctly about an axis parallel to a longitudinal axis A of the mast 3. The hydraulic cap rotator 10 is rotatably mounted on a support 15 which is demountably secured to an underside of the striker plate 8. The hydraulic cap rotator 10 can be removed and a removable 15 spike 18 can be screwed into an associated threaded bore 19 in the striker plate 8 for engaging the stake 5 instead of the hydraulic cap rotator 10 if desired.

During use, to lift the striker plate 8 and hydraulic cap rotator assembly 6 into position on top of a stake 5 conveniently the hammer 4 can be used. To achieve this, the 20 hammer 4 is lowered onto the striker plate 8. A latching arm 20 is loosely mounted in a slot or opening 21 at a side of the striker plate 8. An eye 22 at a top of the arm 20 is engagable with an associated hook 24 (Fig 5) on a side of the hammer 4. Thus, the striker plate 8 can be attached to the hammer 4 for lifting the hydraulic cap rotator assembly 6 and the striker plate 8 into position. A cranked lower end 23 of the 25 latching arm 20 forms a hand grip below the striker plate 8. A stop lug 25 projects outwardly from the latching arm 20 to engage an underside of the striker plate 8 to lift the assembly.

The hydraulic cap rotator 10 has a circular mounting plate 26 at its upper end. A bolt 30 27 (Fig. 3) extends through a central hole in the mounting plate 26 and engages an associated threaded hole in the mounting support 15 to rotatably secure the mounting plate 26 on a bottom face 28 of the mounting support 15. A pair of arcuate guide collars 29 extends downwardly from the underside 28 of the mounting support 15. An outer circumferential edge 50 of the mounting plate 26 slidably engages inner faces

-6-

of the guide collars 29 to provide support for the mounting plate 26.

An inner end 54 of the mounting support 15 engages within a complementary socket 55 formed at an underside 56 of the striker plate 8 at an inner end of the striker plate 5 8. Two bolts 57 engage through holes 59 in the mounting support 15 and with associated threaded holes 58 in the striker plate 8 to secure an outer end of the mounting support 15 to the striker plate 8. Thus the mounting support 15 is securely clamped to the bottom of the striker plate 8.

10 The carriage 9 has a rear wall 60 and sidewalls 61, 62 extending downwardly from the striker plate 8. A cross member 63 extends between the sidewalls 61, 62 in front of the rear wall 60. The socket 55 is defined by a top face 64 of the cross member 63, an underside 56 of the striker plate 8, a front face 65 of the rear wall 60 and inside faces 67, 68 of the sidewalls 61, 62. It will be noted that each side 66 of the

15 socket 55 is deeper due to the curvature of the rear wall 60 and a rear edge of the mounting support 15 has a complementary shape for a snug fit, having outwardly extending tail portions 71 which engage the deeper sides 66 of the socket 55. Outer ends 69,70 of the sidewalls 61,62 flare outwardly to guide engagement with a post when the hydraulic cap rotator 10 is removed and not in use.

20

A pair of mounting brackets 72, 73 project laterally outwardly from one of the sidewalls 61. Through holes 74, 75 in these mounting brackets 72, 73 receive the pivot pin 14. A mounting block 76 carrying the ram 12 sits between the mounting brackets 72, 73 and has a through hole 77 for through passage of the pivot pin 14.

25 The ram 12 has a cylinder 78 carried by the block 76 and an outwardly extending piston rod 79 connected by a pivot mount 80 to the hydraulic cap rotator 10.

The hydraulic cap rotator 10 has a box section body 81 extending downwardly from the mounting plate 26 to define the socket 11 with an outwardly flared rim 82 at its

30 lower end. Outwardly projecting arms 83, 84 on the body 81 support the pivot mount 80 which comprises a pivot pin 85 which extends between the arms 83, 84 and rotatably engages a tubular sleeve 86 mounted at an outer end of the piston rod 79 and housed between the arms 83, 84. A second set of arms 87, 88 (Fig. 2) projects outwardly from the body 80 perpendicularly to the first set of arms 83, 84 and can

-7-

altematively be connected to the pivot mount 80 to mount the stake 5 in a different orientation.

A safety cage 90 sits on the striker plate 80 to prevent access when the hammer 4 is 5 in use.

A front part 100 of the support frame 2 has connectors for attachment to the three point linkage of a tractor. This includes an hydraulic top link 42 which has a ram which is operable to pivot the front part 100 of the support frame 2 about a generally 10 horizontal transverse axis (that is horizontal when the tractor and post driver are standing on horizontal ground). A rear part 101 of the support frame 2 is mounted on the front part 100 by a back shift which is operable to move the front part 100 and rear part 101 together or apart. The mast 3 is slidably mounted on the rear part 101 by a side shift which is operable to move the mast 3 laterally in a direction 15 substantially perpendicular to the back shift. A mast tilt ram 43 is operable to tilt the mast 3 in a lateral plane. The hydraulic top link, back shift, side shift and mast tilt features have been used for many years in our post drivers for positioning and aligning the mast 3 and hammer 4 at a post or stake 5 and are described more fully in our earlier patent applications and may be collectively referred to as mast 20 positioning controls. The rams to operate the mast positioning controls can be manually controlled by a set of hydraulic operating levers 37 mounted on the rear part 101 of the support frame 2.

Referring now to Fig. 6, there is illustrated a cap plate 120 which forms an alternative 25 post-engaging head to the hydraulic cap rotator assembly 6 described previously. Parts similar to those described previously are assigned the same reference numerals. The cap plate 120 is somewhat similar to the mounting support 15 described previously and is engagable with the striker plate 8 in similar fashion. In this case, however, instead of carrying an hydraulic cap rotator three post-engaging 30 spikes 122 project downwardly from a bottom face 123 of the cap plate 120.

Referring now in particular to Figs. 1 and 7 to 10, there is shown a hand-held stake alignment device indicated generally by the reference numeral 30 which can be mounted on the post driver 1. The device 30 has a back plate 31 and a side plate 32

-8-

which are mutually perpendicular and form a V-shaped recess for reception of the stake 5. A hand grip 33 is mounted on the back plate 31. A level sensor 34 is also mounted on the back plate 31 below the handle 33. The level sensor 34 is connected either directly by a cable or by radio link with an associated controller (not shown) 5 mounted on the post driver 1 which controls operation of at least some of the mast positioning controls. A push-button trigger 36 for operation of the level sensor 34 is provided at a free end of the handle 33.

In use, the operator grips the handle 33 and engages the hand-held alignment device 10 30 with the stake 5. By pressing the trigger 36, the level sensor 34 sends level signals to the controller which then operates side shift and back shift rams on the post driver 1 (the operation of the side shift and back shift rams is described in our earlier patent applications) to vertically align the stake 5.

15 When not in use the hand-held alignment device 30 can be hung on a guard frame 38 mounted about hydraulic operating levers 37 for the post driver 1 as shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9.

Referring now in particular to Fig. 1 and Fig. 10, Fig. 10 shows another level sensing 20 device 40 mounted on the mast 3. This is also connected to the controller and can be operated by means by an associated actuating switch for aligning the mast 3 by operation of the hydraulic top link 42 and the mast tilt ram 43 if required.

It will be appreciated that the levelling controller may be arranged to operate any 25 suitable rams of the mast positioning controls for aligning the mast 3 and/or the stake 5 as required.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

A post holder assembly for a post driver, including:

a mounting support having means for attachment to a hammer striker plate of the post driver, and a post-engaging head rotatably mounted on the mounting support.

The post holder assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the post-engaging head has a circular mounting plate which engages a bottom face of the mounting support, an outer circumferential face of the mounting plate slidably engaging a guide which extends downwardly from the bottom face of the mounting support.

The post holder assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the guide comprises a pair of arcuate guide collar members on the bottom face of the mounting support.

The post holder assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an inner end of the mounting support is demountably engagable with a complementary mounting socket on an underside of the striker plate and a fastener is engagable between the mounting support and the striker plate to secure the mounting support against the underside of the striker plate engaged with the socket for attachment of the mounting support to the striker plate.

The post holder assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a threaded hole is provided in the striker plate for releasably mounting a post impaling spike on the underside of the striker plate.

The post holder assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an actuator is provided pivotally engaged with the post-engaging head and pivotally engagable with the striker plate, said actuator being operable to rotate the post-engaging head on the striker plate.

-10-

10

7. The post holder assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the post-engaging head comprises a cap plate having at least one post-engaging spike projecting downwardly from a bottom face of the cap plate, an inner end of the cap plate being demountably engagable with a complementary mounting socket on an underside of the striker plate and a fastener is engagable between the cap plate and the striker plate to secure the cap plate against the underside of the striker plate engaged with the socket for attachment of the cap plate to the striker plate.

8. The post holder assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein a plurality of spaced-part spikes project downwardly from the bottom face of the cap plate.

9. A post holder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the 15 accompanying drawings.

10. The post holder assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in combination with a post driver striker plate, said striker plate having a carriage for slidably mounting the striker plate on a post driver mast.

20

25

11. The combination as claimed in claim 10, wherein a latching arm is captured in an associated slot at a side of the striker plate, said latching arm having an eye which is engagable with an associated hook on a side of a hammer mounted on the post driver mast.

12. The combination as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the carriage has a rear wall and side walls extending downwardly from the striker plate, a cross member extending between the side walls in front of the rear wall, the mounting socket on the underside of the striker plate being defined by a top face of the 30 cross member, an underside of the striker plate, a front face of the rear wall and inside faces of the side walls.

13.

The combination as claimed in any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the actuator is mounted between one of the side walls and the post-engaging head.

-11 -

14. The combination of post holder assembly and associated striker plate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5

15. A post driver incorporating the post holder assembly or combination as claimed in any preceding claim.

16. The post driver as claimed in claim 15, wherein the post driver comprises:

10

a support frame,

a mast mounted on the support frame and having associated mast positioning controls comprising one or more of an hydraulic top link, a

15 back shift, a side shift, and a mast tilt mechanism;

a striker plate movable on the mast between a raised position and a lowered position,

20 means for urging the striker plate downwardly on the mast for driving a post into the ground,

the post holder assembly being rotatably mounted on an underside of the striker plate.

25

17. The post driver as claimed in claim 15 or claim 16, further including a hand-held post alignment device, said post alignment device having a V-shaped recess for reception of and engagement with a post, a level sensor on the post alignment device in communication with a controller on the post driver, said

30 controller operable to actuate one or more of the mast positioning controls to adjust the mast of the post driver in response to the level sensor for alignment of the post in the ground in use.

18. The post driver as claimed in claim 17 wherein the level sensor is connected

-12-

either directly by a cable, or by radio link with the controller.

19. The post driver as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18 wherein means is provided for demountably securing the level sensor on the post driver.

5

20. A post driver substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.