US2744726A

US2744726A - Post hole digging machine

Info

Publication number: US2744726A
Application number: US444011A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sr Gilford J Comeaux
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-07-19
Filing date: 1954-07-19
Publication date: 1956-05-08
Anticipated expiration: 1973-05-08

Description

May 8, 195 G. J. COMEAUX, SR

POST HOLE DIGGING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 19, 1954 Gi/ford J. Comeaux, 5k

IN VEN TOR.

May 8, 1956 Filed July 19, 1954 G. J. COMEAUX, SR

POST HOLE DIGGING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Gi/ford J. C0meaux,$r.

INVENTOR.

By @MdOi-ih.

ovum nay Em United States Patent POST HOLE DIGGlNG MACHINE Gilford J. Comeaux, Sr., Rayne, La.

Application July 19, 1954, Serial No. 444,011 2 Claims. (Cl. 255-19) This invention relates to a portable post hole digger and more particularly to a power operated machine especially adapted for use in drilling a post hole.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of a machine which may be conveniently moved from one location to another by lifting the machine with handles provided therefor and which includes means for simply and efiiciently locking the anger in place against rotation.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a post hole digger having novel and eflicient means for urging the auger downwardly into the ground and for automatically retracting the auger from the post hole after the operation has been completed.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a portable post hole digger having a novel drive arrangement for providing power to the auger.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of a portable post hole digger that is strong and durable, simple in construction and operation, highly efiicient in use, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture thereby permitting wide distribution and utilization.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this portable post hole digger, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the portable post hole digger;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional detail view as taken along the plane of line 22 of Figure l and illustrating the construction of the drive means and of the auger in detail;

Figure 3 is a sectional view as taken along the plane of line 33 in Figure 1 illustrating the connection between the lever and the standard;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 4-4 in Figure 1 and illustrating the construction of the wheel mounting arrangement; and

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 5-5 in Figure l and illustrating the construction of the bracket forming the swivel for the vertical shaft.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral is used to generally designate the post hole digger comprising the present invention which includes a platform 12 mounted on and supported by a stand 14 and

wheels

16 and 18 which are supported by substantially L-shaped supports 20 terminating in stub shafts 22. Braces as at 24 may be used to rigidify the entire construction and a pair of handles 26 and 28'extend outwardly from the platform 12 so that the entire frame formed by the platform 12 and its associated elements may be moved 2,744,726 Patented May 8, 1956 from one location to another in the manner of a wheelbarrow.

Mounted on the platform 12 is a gasoline motor 30 or any other suitable prime mover such as an electric motor if such is desired. The gasoline motor 30 drives by means of a belt 32 a pulley 34 which has a drive shaft 36 secured thereto, the drive shaft 36 being journalled in bearing 38 secured to the table 12. Of course, as may be desired, a suitable grease fitting 40 may be provided for the bearing 38, and the collar 42 is held on the shaft 36 by means of a set screw 44, the collar 42 thus acting as a thrust bear- Attached to the shaft 36 is a worm gear 46 which engages a ring gear 48 which, as can be best seen in Figure 2, has its hub 50 rotatably mounted on the platform 12 and held in place by a bearing assembly 52 and a collar 54 which is held in place on the hub'50 by means of a set screw 56.

The ring gear 48 preferably has a substantially square aperture 58 therethrough for reception of a square shaped vertical shaft 60. An auger 62 of any conventional construction may be detachably secured as at 64 to the lower end of the square vertical shaft 60. The shaft extends upwardly and has its upper end provided with a portion 66 of reduced cross sectional area and is further provided-with a flange 68 thereon. Rotatably received over the portion 66 of the shaft 60, the portion 66 being circular in cross section, is a bracket 70 which has

bifurcations

72 and 74 extending upwardly and apertured for reception of a bolt 76, the bolt also extending through a lever 78. The end portion 66 of the shaft 60 may be threaded for reception of a nut which in conjunction with a collar 82 is utilized to hold the bracket 70 in position. Hence, the bracket 70 can swivel with respect to the shaft 60 but may be locked in place by lock pin or bolt 84 when it is desired to transport the portable post hole digging machine from one location to another without rotation of the auger 62.

A fitting 86 is welded or otherwise attached to the platform 12 and threadedly received therein is a standard 88 which of course may be removed from the internally threaded socket formed by the fitting 86. The standard 88 has an arcuately curved upper portion 90 adapted to have the end thereof overlie the shaft 60 and the bracket 70. A pair of

plates

92 and 94 are welded or otherwise attached to the standard 88 and have slots 96 and 98 therein for reception of a bolt 100 which extends therethrough and are used to adjustably pivotally attach the end of the lever 78 relative to the standard 88. A coil spring 102 is terminally secured to an eye 104 on the upper portion 90 of the standard 88 and to an eye 106 or the like attached to the central-portion of the lever 78 immediately adjacent the bracket 70.

In operation, the motor 30 will drive the belt 32 which is of course guarded by a shield 108 as may be desired so that the drive shaft 36 will cause the worm gear 46 to drive the ring gear 48 to rotate the shaft 60 and hence the auger 62. Depression of the lever 78 will cause the auger 62 to enter the ground and the auger will lift such earth as has been dug upwardly from the ground. After the post hole has been dug, the lever 78 can merely be released and the spring 102 which has been under tension will raise the lever 78, the shaft 60 and the auger 62.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A portable post hole digger comprising a wheeled frame including a platform, a motor mounted on said platform, a drive shaft driven by said motor journall'ed on said platform, a Worm gear driven by said drive shaft, 21 ring gear journalled in said platform,. said worm gear drivingly engaging said ring gear, a vertical shaft drivingly engaged by said ring gear extending through said ring gear, an anger on the lower end of said vertical shaft, a standard secured to said platform, a bracket rotatably secured on said vertical shaft, a lever pivotally attached to said standard and said bracket for raising and lowering said vertical shaft independent of rotation of said shaft, said standard having an arcuate upper end portion overlying said bracket, and a spring terminally secured to said upper end portion of said standard and to said lever, said spring being placed in tension upon lowering of said vertical shaft and said anger, the energy stored in said spring when in tension serving to raise said vertical shaft and said auger upon release of said lever.

2. A portable post hole digger comprising a wheeled frame including a platform, a motor mounted on said platform, a drive shaft driven by said motor journalled on said platform, a worm gear driven by said drive shaft, a ring' gear journalled in said platform, said worm gear drivingly engaging said ring gear, a vertical shaft drivingly engaged by said ring gear extending through said ring gear, an auger on the lower end of said vertical shaft, a standard secured to said platform, a bracket rotatably secured on said vertical shaft, a lever pivotally attached to said standard and said bracket for raising and lowering said vertical shaft independent of rotation of said shaft, said ring gear having a square aperture therethrough, said vertical shaft being square in cross section, said standard having an arcuate upper end portion overlying said bracket, and a spring terminally secured to said upper end portion of said standard and to said lever, said spring being placed in tension upon lowering of said vertical shaft and said anger, the energy stored in said spring when in tension serving to raise said vertical shaft and said auger upon release of said lever.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 269,410 Graham et al Dec. 19, 1882 2,403,041 Beyerink July 2, 1946 2,534,628 Shacklette Dec. 19, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 209,134 Germany Apr. 22, 1909 518,056 Germany Feb. 11, 1931