Apparatus and method for driving posts into the ground
OwnerCharles A. Lagasse, James R. Sheldoninventors
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Abstract
A portable apparatus for driving a post into the ground is provided in an embodiment. The apparatus has a base removably attachable to the post as well as a hammer module tethered to the base to permit vertically reciprocating motion of the module relative to the base and post. The apparatus may be motor driven with rotating, eccentrically mounted cams providing the mechanism for creating a hammering force through reciprocating motion. The hammer module has a face which imparts the hammering force to the top of the post. A method for using such an apparatus is provided in a further embodiment.
Claims16
A portable apparatus for driving a post into the ground, the post having a top, the apparatus comprising:
- a base, removably attachable to the post, wherein the base has a body and an arm;
- a hammer module, coupled to the base, so as to permit vertically reciprocating motion of the hammer module relative to the base, and having a face for transmitting force to the top of the post and wherein the hammer module, in operation, is elongate along a generally horizontal long axis so that the hammer module has two opposed ends, a working end and a pivoting end, through which the long axis passes, the face proximate the working end and the arm pivotally attachable to the pivoting end, so that the working end reciprocates vertically;
- the base and the hammer module constituting an assembly, the assembly including:
- a drive arrangement, so as to cause the hammer module to reciprocate vertically and to impart a hammering force from the face to the top of the post.
A portable apparatus for driving a post into the ground, the post having a top, the apparatus comprising:
- a base, removably attachable to the post;
- and
- a hammer module, coupled to the base, so as to permit vertically reciprocating motion of the hammer module relative to the base, and having a face for transmitting force to the top of the post;
- the base and the hammer module constituting an assembly, the assembly including:
- a frame;
- a motor mounted to the frame;
- a first axle, coupled to the motor;
- and
- a first cam mounted on the first axle,
- wherein the frame, motor, first axle, and first cam are disposed in the hammer module so as to cause the hammer module to reciprocate vertically and to impart a hammering force from the face to the top of the post.
A method for driving a post into the ground, the post having a top, the method comprising:
- (A) providing a portable apparatus having:
- a base, removably attachable to the post;
- and
- a hammer module, coupled to the base, so as to permit vertically reciprocating motion of the hammer module relative to the base, and having a face for transmitting force to the top of the post;
- the base and the hammer module constituting an assembly, the assembly including:
- a frame;
- a motor mounted to the frame;
- a first axle, coupled to the motor;
- a first cam mounted on the first axle,
- a second axle;
- and
- a second cam, mounted on the second axle,
- wherein the assembly's frame, motor, first axle, and first cam, and are disposed in the hammer module, the first axle and the second axle having axes of rotation that are parallel to a reference axis, the second axle being coupled to the motor to rotate in a direction opposite to the direction of the first axle and,
- wherein centroids of the cams alternate between a first position in which the centroids are simultaneously above and a second position in which the centroids are simultaneously below their respective axles' axes of rotation, so as to cause the hammer module to reciprocate vertically;
- (B) positioning the apparatus so that the face engages the top of the post, and
- (C) powering the motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.