U.S. patent application number 11/157241 was filed with the patent office on 2006-12-21 for hole digging device for construction equipment.
Invention is credited to Stephen I. SR. Crow.
Application Number | 20060283054 11/157241 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37571930 |
Filed Date | 2006-12-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060283054 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Crow; Stephen I. SR. |
December 21, 2006 |
Hole digging device for construction equipment
Abstract
A hole digging device is configured as an attachment for use in
combination with a hydraulic excavator, such as a backhoe, the
device including opposed, pivotally connected digging blades. One
of the blades includes opposed arms for supporting the device on
the distal end of the boom of the hydraulic excavator or backhoe
and the other digging blade also includes opposed arms for
connection to the piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder for moving the
digging blades relative to each other between open and closed
positions.
Inventors: |
Crow; Stephen I. SR.;
(Point, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
IP SECTION;GARDERE WYNNE SEWELL LLP
3000 THANKSGIVING TOWER
1601 ELM STREET, SUITE 3000
DALLAS
TX
75201
US
|
Family ID: |
37571930 |
Appl. No.: |
11/157241 |
Filed: |
June 21, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
37/403 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02F 5/027 20130101;
E02F 5/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
037/403 |
International
Class: |
E02F 3/96 20060101
E02F003/96 |
Claims
1. A post hole digging device in combination with an excavator
apparatus including a moveable boom, said device comprising:
opposed digging blades pivotally connected to each other to form a
generally cylindrical hole upon being forced to penetrate the
earth; a pair of opposed arms connected to one of said blades for
connecting said device to said boom of said excavator apparatus;
and the other of said blades including means for connection to an
actuator mounted on said boom for moving said blades relative to
each other between device open and closed positions.
2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein: said one blade
includes opposed recesses and said other blade comprises opposed
bosses projecting from opposed side edges of said other blade and
adapted for receipt within said recesses, respectively, and said
device includes opposed pivot members for supporting said blades
with respect to each other for pivotal movement of said other blade
with respect to said one blade.
3. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein: said one blade
includes support members secured to said one blade adjacent said
recesses for supporting said pivot members, respectively.
4. The combination set forth in claim 3 including: bearing bushings
disposed in said bosses on said other blade and adapted for
receiving said pivot members and for supporting said blades with
respect to each other for pivotal movement.
5. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein: said blades
comprise cooperating portions of respective side edges for limiting
pivotal movement of said blades with respect to each other between
an open position for penetration of said blades into the earth and
a closed position for retrieving a quantity of earth trapped
between said blades.
6. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein: said arms include
spaced apart pin receiving bores formed therein for connecting said
device to said boom by spaced apart support pin means disposed on
said boom and disposed in said bores in said arms,
respectively.
7. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein: said means for
connection on said other blade comprise spaced apart arms including
means for connecting said other blade to said actuator.
8. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein: said other blade
includes a concave arcuate relieved upper edge portion to provide
cylindricity of said hole when said device is retrieved from said
hole.
9. A post hole digging device in combination with an excavator
apparatus including a moveable boom, said device comprising:
opposed digging blades pivotally connected to each other to form a
generally cylindrical hole upon being forced to penetrate the
earth; opposed spaced apart arms connected to each of said blades
for connecting said device to said boom and to an actuator,
respectively, of said excavator apparatus; and opposed pivot pins
for supporting said blades with respect to each other for pivotal
movement of one blade with respect to the other blade.
10. The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein: said one blade
includes opposed recesses and said other blade comprises opposed
bosses projecting from opposed side edges of said other blade and
adapted for receipt within said recesses, respectively.
11. The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein: said one blade
includes support members secured to said one blade adjacent said
recesses for supporting said pivot pins, respectively.
12. The combination set forth in claim 11 including: bearing
bushings disposed in said bosses on said other blade and adapted
for receiving said pivot pins, respectively.
13. The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein: said blades
comprise cooperating portions of said side edges for limiting
pivotal movement of said blades with respect to each other between
a device open position, for penetration of said blades into the
earth and a device closed position for retrieving a quantity of
earth disposed between said blades.
14. The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein: said arms on one
of said blades include spaced apart pin receiving bores for
connecting said device to said boom by spaced apart support pin
means.
15. A post hole digging device in combination with an excavator
apparatus including a moveable boom, said device comprising:
opposed digging blades connected to each other to form a generally
cylindrical hole upon being forced to penetrate the earth; opposed
spaced apart arms connected to each of said blades for connecting
said device to said boom and to an actuator mounted on said boom,
respectively; one of said blades includes opposed recesses and the
other of said blades comprises opposed bosses disposed within said
recesses, respectively; opposed pivot pins for supporting said
blades with respect to each other for pivotal movement of one blade
with respect to the other blade; and bearing bushings disposed in
said bosses on said other blade and adapted for receiving said
pivot pins, respectively.
16. The combination set forth in claim 15 wherein: said blades
comprise cooperating portions of said side edges for limiting
pivotal movement of said blades with respect to each other between
a device open position for penetration of said blades into the
earth and a device closed position for retrieving a quantity of
earth disposed between said blades.
17. The combination set forth in claim 15 wherein: said arms on one
of said blades include spaced apart pin receiving bores for
connecting said device to said boom by spaced apart support pin
means.
18. The combination set forth in claim 15 wherein: said other blade
includes a concave arcuate relieved upper edge portion to provide
cylindricity of said hole when said device is retrieved from said
hole.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Various pieces of equipment have been developed for digging
vertical holes in the earth for construction purposes, such as
postholes and holes for receiving foundation pilings and anchoring
structures. Although specialized pieces of equipment have been
developed for digging vertical holes in the earth, there has been a
need for hole digging equipment or devices which may be adapted for
attachment to the boom of hydraulic excavating equipment, such as a
so-called backhoe apparatus. The provision of such a device as a
removable attachment increases the versatility and usefulness of
expensive construction equipment, such as hydraulic excavators or
so-called backhoes. The provision of a removable hole digging
device also eliminates the need for a specialized piece of hole
digging equipment which would otherwise be idle when not needed. It
is to these ends that the present invention has been developed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention provides a hole digging device,
particularly adapted for removable attachment to and use in
combination with an excavator apparatus, including, in particular,
a hydraulic excavator or backhoe.
[0003] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a
hole digging device is provided which includes opposed digging
blades pivotably connected to each other and forming a
substantially cylindrical digging device or shovel, not unlike a
manual posthole digger, but wherein the digging device is
particularly adapted for attachment to the distal end of a movable
boom of a hydraulic excavator or the like. The hole digging device
includes opposed arms which are fixed to one of the digging blades
and are adapted for connection to spaced apart support pin members
on the boom of the excavator apparatus. The other digging blade of
the device includes a connector for connecting the other blade to
an extensible hydraulic cylinder and piston actuator mounted on the
boom and otherwise used for manipulating an excavator bucket.
[0004] Accordingly, the present invention provides a device which
is easily substituted for the hydraulic actuated excavating bucket
or backhoe bucket normally connected to the distal end of a movable
boom of an excavator apparatus. In this way a hole digging device
is provided which does not require separate hole digging equipment,
such as the more common motorized auger type hole digger, an
expensive piece of equipment which would otherwise sit idle when
not needed for digging post, piling or anchor holes, for
example.
[0005] Still further, instead of requiring two expensive pieces of
equipment, one of which might sit idle while the other is in use,
the hole digging device of the present invention increases the
versatility of an excavator, backhoe or similar apparatus while
permitting substitution of the hole digging device for an excavator
bucket or other boom mounted attachment. Those skilled in the art
will further appreciate the abovementioned advantages and superior
features of the invention together with other important aspects
thereof upon reading the detailed description which follows in
conjunction with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a unit of construction
equipment comprising a hydraulic excavator, to which is connected
the hole digging device of the present invention;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a detail view of the hole digging device on a
larger scale;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a detail section view taken along line 3-3 of FIG.
2; and
[0009] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the hole digging
device of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0010] In the description which follows like parts are marked
throughout the specification and drawing with the same reference
numerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily to
scale and certain features may be shown exaggerated in scale or in
somewhat schematic form in the interest of clarity and
conciseness.
[0011] Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a unit of
construction equipment comprising a hydraulic excavator 10. The
excavator 10 includes a track mounted swiveling platform 11 on
which is mounted a power unit 11a, typically comprising a diesel
engine driving a hydraulic pump system to provide pressure fluid
for operating the excavator unit 10. A cab 11b is provided for the
operator of the excavator unit 10. The excavator unit 10 includes
an elongated boom 12 which is mounted on the platform 11 for
pivotal movement in a generally vertical plane in a conventional
manner. The boom 12 may be moved to selected working positions by
one or more linearly extensible hydraulic cylinder actuators 13,
one shown.
[0012] The excavator unit 10 includes a second boom 14 mounted for
pivotal movement with respect to the first boom 12 at a pivot
connection 14a. Boom 14 is movable to selected working positions
with respect to boom 12 by a hydraulic cylinder and piston actuator
16 of conventional design. Referring still further to FIG. 1, the
boom 14 supports a unique hole digging device in accordance with
the invention and generally designated by the numeral 20. The
digging device 20 is supported on the distal end 15 of the boom 14
by spaced apart support arms 22, see FIGS. 3 and 4 also. Digging
device 20 is operably connected to a third hydraulic cylinder and
piston actuator 18 mounted on the boom 14 in a conventional manner
including a clevis type mounting 14c, FIG. 1, allowing for limited
pivotal movement of actuator 18 with respect to boom 14.
[0013] In the illustrations of FIGS. 1 and 2, the hole digging
device 20 of the present invention is shown mounted on the boom 14
in place of a conventional excavator bucket normally used with the
excavator unit 10. In other words, an excavator bucket has been
removed from being supported on the distal end 15 of boom 14 and
also operably connected to the hydraulic cylinder and piston
actuator 18, and the hole digging device 20 has been substituted
for the aforementioned excavator bucket for performing operations
to dig essentially vertical holes in the earth's surface 17.
However, those skilled in the art will recognize that, by
manipulating the boom 14 and the boom 12 with respect to the
platform 11, the hole digging device 20 may be oriented for digging
holes in various directions, depending on the topographic features
of the earth formation being worked. For purposes of illustration
in FIG. 1, the excavator unit 10 is shown on a generally flat
horizontal surface 17, and the digging device 20 is oriented for
digging a substantially vertical hole.
[0014] Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, a preferred manner of
mounting the digging device 20 to the boom 14 is carried out by
providing the spaced apart arms 22 with axially aligned pin
receiving bores 23 and 25, respectively. Pin receiving bores 23 and
25 are adapted to receive respective cylindrical dowel pins 27,
FIG. 3, which extend through cooperating bores 14q in the boom 14,
such bores being formed, for example, in spaced apart side plates
14p of boom 14, as shown in FIG. 3. Pins 27 may be retained in
their working positions shown by conventional means, not shown,
such as cotter pins or the like, or by press fitting the pins in
bores 23 and 25, or bores 14q formed in boom 14. In this way, the
digging device 20 may be conveniently supported on the distal end
15 of boom 14 in place of a conventional excavator bucket and also
adapted for connection to the distal end 18d of piston rod 18e of
hydraulic cylinder actuator 18, see FIG. 2. Piston rod distal end
18d may be characterized as a pivot pin receiving boss for
receiving a pin, not shown in FIG. 2, which pin is adapted to
project into bores formed in support arms on one of two opposed
digging blades of device 20 to be described further herein.
[0015] Referring now to the exploded perspective view of FIG. 4,
the hole digging device 20 is further characterized by opposed
generally arcuate digging blades 28 and 30 which, when connected to
each other, form a substantially cylindrical cross-sectional
profile, that is the digging blade 28 is approximately
semi-circular in configuration and digging blade 30 is also
approximately semi-circular, both with respect to central axis 21.
Digging blade 28 is deliminted by a lower distal end 29 and digging
blade 30 is delimited by a corresponding lower distal end 31. The
wall thickness of both blades 28 and 30 may be scarfed or tapered
toward ends 29 and 31 to assist in penetration of the blades into
the earth. Digging blade 30 is shown to have tapered longitudinal
edge portions 30c and 30d, for example, FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4,
digging blade 30 is connected to lower extension parts 22a of arms
22 in a suitable manner, such as by welding the extension parts to
an inner surface 30a of digging blade 30. Arms 22 are suitably
spaced apart to match the spacing required by the width of the
distal end 15 of boom 14, so that the arms 22 may be connected to
the boom in the manner shown and described. Arms 22 may be scarfed
at extension parts 22a to fit arcuate blade surface 30a.
[0016] Digging blade 28 is provided with spaced apart, preferably
semi-circular, connecting bosses 32 and 34, FIG. 4, which project
laterally with respect to the longitudinal extent of digging blade
28. Bosses 32 and 34 are provided with respective pivot pin
receiving bores 32a and 34a as illustrated. Blade connecting bosses
32 and 34 are adapted to be received in corresponding recesses 36
and 38 formed in opposed upper side edges 40 and 42 of digging
blade 30. Recesses 36 and 38 are closed at their intersection with
inner surface 30a of blade 30 by opposed bearing pin support plates
44 and 46, which plates may be welded to the inner wall surface 30a
of digging blade 30. Bearing pin support plates 44 and 46 are
provided with respective pivot pin receiving bores 48 and 50, as
illustrated in FIG. 4. Bores 48 and 50 are adapted to be aligned
with bores 32a and 34a of digging blade 28 when bosses 32 and 34
are in registration with the recesses 36 and 38 of digging blade
30.
[0017] Digging blade 28 is provided with longitudinal opposed side
edges 28c and 28d disposed generally below the bosses 32 and 34 and
short longitudinal side edges 28e and 28f extending above the
bosses 32 and 34 and terminating at an upper transverse edge 28g of
blade 28. Side edges 28c and 28d are disposed, preferably, at a
slight acute angle with respect to longitudinal central axis 21 of
digging device 20 so that a tapered or wedge shaped space is formed
between edges 28c and 30c and between edges 28d and 30d when
cooperating edges 28e and 40a are contiguous and when cooperating
edges 28f and 42a are also contiguous or in contact with each
other. In other words, edges 28e and 28f form a stop when engaged
with edges 40a and 42a when blade 28 is pivoted with respect to
blade 30, and comprising an open position of digging device 20.
[0018] Blades 28 and 30 are adapted to be connected to each other
by respective bearing pins 52 and 54 each having respective
cylindrical head portions 52a and 54a. Bearing pins 52 and 54 are
cylindrical and are dimensioned to be received within cooperating
bearing bushings 56 and 58 of digging device 20. Bushings 56 and 58
are adapted to be disposed in the cooperating bores 48 and 32a and
bores 50 and 34a, respectively, for pivotally connecting the
digging blades 28 and 30 to each other. Bearing bushings 56 and 58
may, for example, be press fitted into bores 32a and 34a. Pins 52
and 54 are adapted to project within the bores of the bearing
bushings 56 and 58 and the heads 52a and 54a welded to the plates
44 and 46, respectively. In this way bearing pins 52 and 54 may
pivot within the bearing bushings 56 and 58 as the digging plates
28 and 30 are pivoted with respect to each other for limited
movement about a central axis of the coaxially aligned bores 48 and
50 of plates 44 and 46.
[0019] Referring further to FIG. 4, digging blade 28 is provided
with spaced apart upwardly extending arms 62 suitably welded to
arcuate inner surface 28s of blade 28, and spaced apart
approximately the same distance as the arms 22. Arms 62 are notched
to fit above the major concave arcuate relieved portion of upper
edge 28g of blade 28 shown in FIG. 4. Arms 62 are interconnected by
a suitable pivot pin 62b operable to be connected to piston rod
boss 18d. Accordingly, digging blades 28 and 30 of device 20 are
secured to each other for limited pivotal movement with respect to
each other by the bearing pins 52 and 54 and the respective bearing
bushings 56 and 58, which are secured in the bores 32a and 34a of
digging blade 28, and are also in registration with the bores 48
and 50 of digging blade 30.
[0020] In response to actuation of the hydraulic cylinder actuator
18 to extend its piston rod 18e, viewing FIGS. 1 and 2, digging
blade 28 may undergo limited pivotal movement until surfaces or
edges 28c and 28d engage edges 30c and 30d of the digging blade 30
to position the digging attachment 20 in a so-called closed
position for lifting a quantity of earth out of a hole being formed
by the digging device 20. Arcuate concave upper edge 28g is
provided to maintain cylindricity of a hole being formed by digging
device 20 when the blades are moved to their closed positions prior
to removal of a quantity of earth from a hole being dug. When
actuator 18 is actuated to retract its piston rod 18e upwardly,
viewing FIGS. 1 and 2, digging blade 28 is pivoted with respect to
digging blade 30 until edges 28e and 28f engage edges 40a and 42a
thereby moving the blades 28 and 30 to a so-called open position
with respect to each other and allowing dirt to fall out of the
space between the blades. In a digging operation, the blades 28 and
30 are held in this open position as the booms 12 and 14 are
manipulated to force the digging device 20 into the earth to
penetrate same and retrieve a quantity of earth, this repeated
operation being similar in some respects to a conventional manually
operated post hole digging device.
[0021] The construction and operation of the digging device 20 is
believed to be understandable to those skilled in the art based on
the foregoing description. Conventional engineering materials may
be used to form the components of the digging device 20, such as
high strength steel for essentially all of the components except
for the bearing bushings 56 and 58, which may be formed of a
suitable compatible bearing material, such as bronze or even,
possibly, a self lubricating polymer, such as nylon.
[0022] Although a preferred embodiment of a digging device for
connection to an excavator boom has been described in detail
herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that various
substitutions and modifications may be made without departing from
the scope and spirit of the appended claims.
* * * * *