# US 4,398,360 A · Pole excavating device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,398,360 A - Document ID: US4398360A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/342,114 - Filed: 1982-01-25 - Granted: 1983-08-16 - Earliest claimed: 1982-01-25 - Inventors: Donald L. Kessler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4398360A ## CPC - E02D 5/226: {Protecting piles (piles with protecting cases E02D5/60)} - E21B 7/005: {with helical conveying means (E21B7/201 takes precedence; augers E21B10/44; drilling rods or pipes with helical structure E21B17/22)} - E21B 19/24: Guiding or centralising devices for drilling rods or pipes - E02D: FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS (specially adapted for hydraulic engineering E02B); UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES {(tunnels, tunnelling, mining E21)} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A device for excavating material from around the periphery of a pole embedded in the ground. A frame is provided with a plurality of pole-engaging rollers adapted for placement against the pole periphery. An endless chain having one portion looped about the pole and another portion looped about sprockets carried by the frame secures the device to the pole. The sprockets are rotatably positioned on the frame at a slight inclination to a true horizontal plane and engage the chain for transporting the frame along the chain and in a descending helical path along the pole. A chain tension sprocket is provided and is movable toward and away from the pole axis to adjust the chain tension. An auger is carried by the frame and is adapted to cut an annular opening in the ground around the pole. Drive means are provided to urge the frame, and thereby the auger, around the pole and in a downward direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for excavating ground material about an upright pole embedded therein, said device comprising a frame, an auger mounted on said frame, a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on said frame and engageable with the pole surface, attaching means carried by said frame to attach said device to a pole, said attaching means having a portion thereof adapted to be looped about a pole in a helical path, means for revolving said frame about said pole and along said looped portion of said attaching means, said revolving means including means for gradually displacing said frame in a direction generally parallel to the axis of said pole and in a generally helical path. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein said revolving means includes a pair of sprockets rotatably mounted on said frame and engageable with said attaching means, and drive means for rotating at least one of said sprockets. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2 wherein said sprockets are slightly inclined at an angle relative to a true horizontal plane whereby said sprockets continuously displace said attaching means in a direction parallel to the axis of said helical path. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2 wherein said drive means includes a source of power, means connecting said power source to an output shaft, chain drive means operatively connecting said output shaft to a drive shaft, said one of said sprockets being mounted on said drive shaft. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device of claim 4 wherein said chain drive means includes a sprocket mounted on said output shaft, and a shear pin connecting said last mentioned sprocket to said output shaft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 including means for tensioning said looped portion of said attaching means about a pole. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6 wherein said tensioning means includes a movable sprocket engageable with said attaching means, and means for moving said movable sprocket toward and away from said looped portion of said attaching means. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7 wherein said moving means includes a housing for said movable sprocket, a pair of spaced lugs on said housing having aligned threaded openings for receiving a screw, and means for rotating said screw, said movable sprocket being mounted for angular movement about said screw. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The device of claim 7 including means biasing said movable sprocket toward said looped portion of said attaching means. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein said rollers are formed of a resiliently yieldable material compressible upon contact with protrusions on the surface of said pole. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein said attaching means comprises an endless chain. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11 wherein said chain is provided with a plurality of inwardly directed gripping lugs to facilitate the gripping of the surface of said pole by said chain. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 wherein said auger is provided with a leading cutting edge, a trailing edge, and a spiral channel ascending from said cutting edge to said trailing edge.