U.S. patent application number 11/262399 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-01 for post driver safety latch.
Invention is credited to Richard Collins, Bruce Masters, Edwin Parsons.
Application Number | 20060113444 11/262399 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36242715 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060113444 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Parsons; Edwin ; et
al. |
June 1, 2006 |
Post driver safety latch
Abstract
A safety latch for supporting a post in a post driver while the
post is being driven into the ground. A post-engaging roller is
mounted on a lever arm that is pivotally attached to the post
driver and moveable between a released position for positioning of
a post in the post driver and a working position where the roller
is in supporting engagement with the post. A spring biases the
roller to maintain supporting engagement with the post while it is
driven. In a preferred embodiment, the spring is part of an
over-center device for biasing the safety latch to both the
released and working positions depending on which side of center
the lever arm is positioned.
Inventors: |
Parsons; Edwin; (Pleasant
Hill, IA) ; Collins; Richard; (Maxwell, IA) ;
Masters; Bruce; (Graettinger, IA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DAVIS, BROWN, KOEHN, SHORS & ROBERTS, P.C.;THE FINANCIAL CENTER
666 WALNUT STREET
SUITE 2500
DES MOINES
IA
50309-3993
US
|
Family ID: |
36242715 |
Appl. No.: |
11/262399 |
Filed: |
October 28, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60623325 |
Oct 29, 2004 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
248/274.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 17/263
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/274.1 |
International
Class: |
E04G 3/00 20060101
E04G003/00 |
Claims
1. A post driver safety latch, comprising: (a) mounting apparatus
secured to the post driver; (b) a lever arm mounted on the mounting
apparatus for pivotal movement; (c) engagement means on the arm
member for engaging and supporting the post; and (d) biasing means
for biasing the arm member toward the post driver to maintain the
engagement means in supporting engagement with the post.
2. A post driver safety latch as defined in claim 1, wherein the
engagement means comprises a roller.
3. A post driver safety latch as defined in claim 1, wherein the
biasing means comprises an over-center apparatus.
4. A safety latch for supporting a post inside a post driver,
comprising: (a) mounting apparatus secured to the post driver; (b)
a lever arm mounted on the mounting apparatus for pivotal movement
between a released position and a working position; (c) post
engagement apparatus movable with the lever arm between a released
position and a working position in supporting engagement with the
post; and (d) a spring biasing the arm member toward the working
position to maintain the post engagement apparatus in supporting
engagement with the post.
5. A safety latch as defined in claim 4, further comprising an
over-center apparatus wherein the spring biases the lever arm
toward the released position when the lever arm is on a first side
of the center position and toward the working position when the
lever arm is on the other side of the center position.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 60/623,325, filed Oct. 29, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates generally to post drivers and, more
specifically, to a safety device for a hydraulic post driver.
[0003] Hydrauic post drivers are used in the setting and driving of
posts into the ground. The drivers are usually carried on a prime
mover, such as a truck, agricultural tractor, or the like. The
prime mover transports the driver to the desired position and then
uses pressurized hydraulic clued from the prime mover to drive the
post into the ground. An example of a hydraulic post driver is
described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,940,267, which is incorporated herein
by this reference.
[0004] Even though warned to use a tool or similar device to hold
the post, if needed, while using the post driver, users would
sometimes ignore the warnings and use their hands to hold or steady
the post. The present device holds the post in position and will
reduce the likelihood that a user will endanger himself while using
the post driver.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A hydraulic post driver includes a frame inside of which the
post is positioned in a vertical orientation during the driving
procedure. A hydraulic ram is supported above the frame and presses
against the top of the post to drive it into the ground. Because
the frame must be open to receive the post, there is a possibility
that the post can be displaced from the frame during the driving
procedure. The invention consists of a support that holds a post in
position relative to a post driver during the post driving
procedure. The support is mounted on the frame adjacent the top end
section. It includes an arm member that is mounted for swinging
movement about a vertical axis of the support between a released
position swung away from the frame and a working position swung
toward the frame. A post-engaging roller is mounted on the arm
member and is brought into and out of supporting engagement with
the post as the arm member is swung toward and away from the frame.
A spring-loaded, over-center device biases the roller into
supporting contact with the post as it is being driven into the
ground. After the post has been driven into the ground, the arm
member is swung away from the frame to open the frame for insertion
of another post to be driven.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0006] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the invention shown
holding a post in position for driving by a post driver.
[0007] FIG. 2 is an upper perspective of the invention in its open
position.
[0008] FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the invention in its
closed or working position holding a post.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a top view of the invention in its open
position.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a top view of the invention in its shown in an
intermediate position between it open and closed positions.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a top view of the invention in its closed
position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Illustrated in FIG. 1, generally at 10, it the post support
of the present invention shown mounted on a frame 12 of a post
driver inside of which is shown a post 14. Above the frame 12 is a
hydraulic cylinder 16 that contacts the top of the post 14 to drive
it into the ground.
[0013] The post support 10 is shown in its open or released
position in FIGS. 2 and 4. It includes a plate 18 mounted to a side
of the frame 12. An arm member 20 is mounted to the plate 18 for
swinging pivotal movement about an axis defined by a pin 22. The
arm member 20 includes a first section 24 and a second section 26.
A post-engaging roller 28 is supported centrally on the arm member
20 approximately at the junction between the two sections. The free
end of the second section 26 includes a handle 30 that is grasped
by a user when swinging the arm member 20.
[0014] A spring 32 interconnects the first section 24 and the plate
18 at a position rearwardly of the pin 22. The spring 32 biases the
arm member 20 toward its mounting on the plate 18. A stop 34 is
provided that holds the arm member 20 in its released position as
shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 against further movement by the spring
32.
[0015] In use to engage and support the post 14, the arm member 20
is pivoted toward the frame 12 to bring the roller 28 into
supporting contact engagement with the post 14, as illustrated in
FIGS. 1, 3, and 6. The spring 32 biases the arm member 20 and
associated roller 28 toward the post 14 once the arm member 20 has
been pivoted toward the post 14 bringing the attachment point of
the spring 32 on the first section 24 past the pivot axis as
defined by the pin 22. Accordingly, the spring 32 acts as an
over-center device. An intermediate position is illustrated in FIG.
5, wherein the arm member 20 is approaching the center
position.
[0016] In use, the post driver is moved to the desired position and
a post 14 is inserted into the frame 12. The arm member 20 is
pivoted from the open position (FIG. 4) through the intermediate
position (FIG. 5) to its post engaging position wherein the roller
28 is in contact with the post 14 (FIG. 6). Thereafter, as the post
14 is driven into the ground, the post support 10 serves to hold
the post 14 in the desired position within the frame 12, with the
roller 28 rolling along the surface of the post 14. After the post
14 has been driven, the arm member 20 is pivoted to its released or
open position so that the post driver can be moved to the next
working location.
[0017] The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative
embodiments of the present inventions. The foregoing embodiments
and the methods described herein may vary based on the ability,
experience, and preference of those skilled in the art. Merely
listing the steps of the method in a certain order does not
constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of the method.
The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and
illustrate the invention, and the invention is not limited thereto,
except insofar as the claims are so limited. Those skilled in the
art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make
modifications and variations therein without departing from the
scope of the invention.
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