Boom operated demolition apparatus and method of breaking composite material

Demolition apparatus adapted to be carried by a movable arm-like member for demolition of a surface comprising:

• support structure adapted to be attached to a movable arm-like member, an axially movable power plunger supported by the support structure, a resilient member, means joining the resilient member to the power plunger and to the support structure whereby the resilient member urges the power plunger in a direction from the support structure, an actuator plunger carried by the support structure and having a portion extending therefrom, a latch member supported by the actuator plunger and engageable with a portion of the power plunger to maintain the position of the power plunger with respect to the position of the actuator plunger, release means carried by the support structure for release of the latch member from the power plunger in accordance with the relative positions of the support structure and the actuator plunger, whereby the support structure is adapted to be moved by the arm-like member toward a surface for demolition of the surface, whereby the actuator plunger engages the surface, and additional movement of the support structure toward the surface forces relative movement between the support structure and the plungers, such movement being against the forces of the resilient member, whereby additional movement of the support structure toward the surface operates the release means for release of the latch member from engagement with said portion of the power plunger and releasing the power plunger for rapid travel under the influence of the resilient member and into engagement with the surface for demolition thereof.

Demolition apparatus adapted to be attached to a movable arm of a machine for movement by the movable arm for demolition of a surface, comprising:

• support structure;
• means for attaching the support structure to a movable arm;
• an axially movable power member supported by the support structure, the power member having a strike portion movable from the support structure;
• an axially movable actuator member substantially parallel to the power member and supported by the support structure, the actuator member having an engagement portion extending from the support structure;
• a spring, means joining the spring to the support structure and to the power member and urging axial movement of the power member in a direction from the support structure;
• the actuator member including carrier means engageable with a part of the power member for maintaining the position of the power member with respect to the actuator member;
• and
• whereby the support structure is adapted to be supported and moved by an arm toward a surface for demolition of the surface and the engagement portion of the actuator member is moved into engagement with the surface and remains in engagement with the surface, continued movement of the support structure toward the surface being substantially parallel to the axis of the actuator member and opposed by the spring as the actuator member maintains the position of the power member, control means supported by the support structure and operable upon the carrier means to disengage the carrier means from the power member as the support structure is moved to a predetermined position with respect to the actuator member, whereby disengagement of the power member permits the spring to force the power member to move the strike portion thereof against the surface for demolition of the surface.

Demolition apparatus comprising an elongate housing provided with a pair of end walls:

• an elongate power plunger within the housing and extending through the end walls thereof, the power plunger having an engagement portion, the power plunger also having a strike portion adjacent an end thereof;
• an actuator plunger within the housing, substantially parallel to the power plunger and extending through the end walls of the housing;
• a latch attached to the actuator plunger and engageable with the engagement portion of the power plunger to maintain the position of the power plunger with respect to the position of the actuator plunger;
• a coil spring engaging the housing and the power plunger and urging movement of the power plunger in a direction from the housing;
• an abutment member within the housing and engageble with the latch for release of the latch from the engagement portion of the power plunger;
• and
• whereby the housing is moved toward a surface to be demolished and the actuator plunger engages the surface and maintains the position of the actuator plunger and the power plunger with the strike portion of the power plunger spaced from the surface, whereby additional movement of the housing toward the surface moves the abutment member into engagement with the latch and releases the latch from the engagement portion of the power plunger and the spring forces movement of the power plunger for engagement of the strike portion of the power plunger with the surface.

A demolition apparatus adapted to be connected to a force arm and moved into forcible engagement with a composite material for breaking said composite material into a plurality of pieces, comprising:

• a housing having an end and being connectable to and movable in response to movement of said force arm;
• an actuator plunger having an end and being connected to and axially movable relative to the housing between first and second positions;
• a power plunger having an end and being connected to and axially movable relative to the housing in a direction substantially parallel to said actuator plunger in response to movement of said actuator plunger from the first toward the second position, said plunger ends being longitudinally spaced a preselected distance "D" one from the other at the first position of the actuator plunger with said actuator plunger end being spaced the farthest from said housing;
• spring means for longitudinally biasing the power plunger relative to the housing and in a direction toward said end of said power plunger;
• and
• means for compressing said spring means in response to moving the actuator plunger from the first toward the second position and releasing said spring means in response to the power plunger having been moved relative to and toward the housing a preselected distance greater than said preselected distance.