IES86166B2 - Process for mechanically dispensing and driving stakes/posts for fencing, with wire attached - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an agricultural machine used to lay stakes and wire for electric fencing. The invention comprises of stakes that slide along a rail system that is threaded with wire and is driven into the ground by use of mechanics. This invention is driven by a tractor. The invention has also the capability to remove stakes and wire from the ground. The advantage of the invention is it saves time laying and removing electric fencing which at present is very labour intensive. <Figure 24>

Description

Process for mechanically dispensing and driving Stakes / Posts for fencing, with Wire attached.

Field of Invention The present invention relates to the Agricultural industry. In particular the invention relates to a new machine that will lay stakes / posts and wire for temporary electric fencing.

Background Farming today is very demanding, any aids or machinery can greatly reduce the amount of labour the farmer has to endure.

Dairy and beef farmers have to fence boundaries and section off areas of land using electric fences, in order to allow grass to grow and ration.

Electric fences are also used to keep dairy and beef animals in their associated fields.

Electric fencing involves stepping out, driving down insulated stake, and then running the wire along the Stakes / Posts before joining the electric source. This is a very labour intensive exercise and depending on the land area can take hours to do.

This invention is designed to aid in this task through the use of mechanics.

Statement of Invention The Machine is a Tractor driven machine that will tell the driver the distance between Stakes / Posts, and drive the Stakes / Posts using hydraulics. The electric wire is threaded through the Stakes / Posts so the user does not need to thread afterwards.

The hydraulics are operated in the tractor. The machine consists of 7 main mechanisms / key areas In order to work. 1. Main Frame (Exeo Skeleton). 2. Rail System (Loading Rail). 3. Stake / Post Guidance Rails. 4. Stakes / Posts.

. Stake/ Post Pushing Unit. 6. Lifting unit. 7. Rewind Unit.

Brief Description of Drawings Drawings are all contained in the Drawings section. The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of an embodiment, with reference to the accompanying Drawings in which: Referring to Figures 1 and 2 shows the skeletal frame and the open end frame of the invention; Referring to Figures 3 I; identifies the rails which the Stakes / Posts slide along; Referring to Figure 4II; identifies the roller mechanism which pushes the Stakes / Posts along the rails; Referring to Figures 5 and 6 identify the winding pulleys unit which pulls the roller mechanism; Referring to Figures 7IV and 8 V; identify the guidance rails that the Stakes / Posts move along when being pushed into the earth; Referring to Figure 9 identifies the stake pushing unit; Referring to Figures 10,11, and 12 shows the stake / Post; Referring to Figures 13,14 and 15 identify the mechanism that pushes the stake into the earth; Referring to Figures 16 and 17 shows the stake lifting unit and rewinding unit for removing Stakes / Posts and wire; Referring to Figures 18 to 23 show different views of the invention; Referring to Fig 24 is a full drawing of the invention for use in the Abstract: Detailed Description Main Frame (Exeo Skeleton) The frame consists of large Z columns designed to withstand the loads required as shown in Figure 1. There is an open end on the frame as shown in figure 2; this is to allow the Stakes / Posts and wire to pass through. Without this opening at the end the machine would not function. The frame is also offset to allow the user to locate the Stakes / Posts close to the boundary perimeter e.g. Hedges and Ditches.

Rail System (Loading Rail) The loading rail consists of four rails, two on top and two on bottom as shown in Figure 3 I. The Stakes / Posts slide along these rails to the stake guidance system.

The Stakes / Posts are pulled along the rails system with cables. The cables are connected to a roller mechanism that will push the Stakes I Posts along the rail at different strategic points as shown in figure 4 II; These cables are tightened every time a stake is pushed into the earth, by pulleys that are turned by an arm connected to the stake pushing unit when the pushing ram is returned to its home position as shown in figure 5.

The arm is on a ratchet, and once the pushing unit moves to the home position the arm turns the two pulleys, a simple ratchet device as shown in figure 6 III; keeps the pulleys from counterturning when the next stake is being pushed. This prevents the wire from becoming loose.

A spring may be attached between the roller mechanism and the wire to prevent damage from an over tight wire.

Stake / Post Guidance Rails The guidance rails ensures the Stakes / Posts go into the ground straight and more importantly makes sure the wire is not sheered by the downward movement of the stake.

There are four of these guidance rails as shown in Figure 3 I; Once the stake / post is being pushed against the back plate as shown in Figure 8 IV; the Stake / post pushing unit as shown in figure 9 VIII ;will then push the stake I post in a downward motion. Once the stake / post begins to move down it will open a spring gate as shown in figure 9 VI; This gate prevents the Stakes / Posts falling down the guidance system and then proceeds to move outward along the rails. The stake / post moves outward to avoid sheering the wire as shown in Figure 9 VII; when the outward motion is complete the stake will straighten up and proceed downward with the force of the stake pushing unit as shown in Figure 9 VIII; until it reaches the earth.

Stakes / Posts The Stakes / Posts are specifically designed to work with the Temporary Electric Fencing Machine. The Stakes / Posts have horizontal bars at the top and the bottom ends. These bars are to ensure the Stakes / Posts slide along the rails and into the guidance system. The top bars are longer than the bottom ones as shown in figure 10 IX; this is to aid in the lifting of the Stakes / Posts when the user needs to relocate or remove the Stakes / Posts. The stake pushing unit will push the bottom bars.

Both top and bottom bars are offset to ensure the Stakes / Posts always in a vertical position entering the guidance system; it is also to create a gap between the insulators as shown in Figure 11X; The insulators are pushed on top of the stake. The insulators are round and are of a considerably larger diameter than the wire as show in Figure 12; this is to avoid Stakes / Posts being pulled from the ground by joins etc in the wire. It is also to make sure there is a smooth flow of wire through the loaded Stakes / Posts when the machine is being used.

Stake Pushing Unit This is the mechanism that pushes the stake into the earth. This mechanism is driven by a hydraulic ram as shown in Figure 13 XI; the mechanism slides along the back as shown in figure 13 XII; which is run on brackets bolted on the back frame as shown in figure 13 XIII; The mechanism has two plates on the bottom as shown in figure 14 XVI which grab the lower stake/ post bar and then pushes the stake / post along the guidance rails.

When the stake/ post is pushed to the earth, and the user returns the ram to the home position, the plates are hinged as shown in figure 15 XVI; and move to prevent being caught in the next stake/ post in the guidance system as shown in figure 15 XVII.

Lifting Unit This Mechanism is designed to lift the Stakes / Posts from the ground. The unit is a simple arm as shown in Figure 16 XVI; linked to a Hydraulic ram as shown in figure 16 XIX; that is controlled in the tractor. The arm contains a long forked type rail as shown in figure 16 XX; The user lowers the unit and directs the fork in between the stake / post ensuring that the top horizontal bar is above the fork, once the stake / post is in the fork the ram can be extended which removes the stake from the ground. The fork is on a swivel which ensures the Stakes / Posts will always be vertical with the help of gravity. This unit can also act as a stake / post carrier when doing large areas as shown in figure 16.

Rewind Unit The rewind unit is a large spool as shown in figure 17 XXI; at the front of the Temporary Electric Fencing Machine this spool is driven by a hydraulic motor. The spool can be used to rewind all the wire before the Stakes / Posts are removed.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described, but may be varied in construction and detail within the scope of the claims.

Claims (5)

Claims

1. A Tractor pulled mechanical device used to Erect and remove Temporary insulated electric fencing stakes / posts as shown in Figure 10 with Wire included, the mechanism including a hydraulic motored wire reel as shown in figure 17 XXI in which fence wire can be loaded, A Hydraulic ram sliding mechanism as for dispensing posts as shown in figure 13 XI and XII, A Hydraulically operated forked ended lifting arm as shown in figure 16 XVI, an open-ended offset frame as shown in figure 7, a post Rail guide system as shown in figure 3 I, and a fencing post loading mechanism as shown in Figure 4 II.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further including a roller mechanism to push the fencing posts along 4 parallel guides rails as shown in Figure 3 I into the PLATED vertical and angular guidance system as shown in figure 7IV by means of pulling force generated by the ram mechanism as shown in figure 5.

3. An Apparatus contained in claim 1 in which a large round insulated component as shown in figure 12 is connected to the stake / post as shown in figure 10, two bars are connected horizontally and offset to the fencing post as shown in figure 10 IX and Figure 11X.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 Wherein two plates as shown figure 14 XVI are connected off centre to the open end of a sliding mechanism as shown in figure 13 XII at the rear of an open ended frame as shown in figure 2 by means of a pivotal fixture.

5. A Mechanical device for dispensing and driving Stakes / Posts for fencing, with Wire attached as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying description and / or drawings.