Combined earth boring and post driving apparatus

Claim 2

In an earth boring and post driving apparatus, the combination comprising: a self-propelled mobile carrier; a retractable frame having side members, said side members comprising guide means for guiding movement of weight means along and between said members; a turntable rotatably mounted on said carrier; universal mounting means movably and operably carried on said turntable and pivotally supporting said frame so as to be cantilevered laterally from one side thereof as well as to the rear thereof; an earth auger assembly movably carried on said frame adapted to be advanced to an operating position disposed between said frame side members and having an auger bit adapted to bore a post hole; said weight means, for an earth boring operation, being detachably connected to said auger assembly to urge said auger bit into biting contact with the earth and, for a post driving operation when said auger assembly is retracted from its operating position, being lifted upwardly along said side members and dropped downwardly along said members to strike the upper end of a post to drive said post into the earth; and hydraulic means for tilting said frame and for advancing and retracting said auger assembly.

Claim 3

The invention as defined in claim 1 including a slide member carried on said turntable for rectilinear movement and said universal mounting means carried on said slide member.

Claim 4

The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for detachably coupling said weight means to said auger assembly includes: said weight means having a downwardly opening receptacle and apertures opening through the opposite sides thereof; and latch means slidably carried on said auger assembly normally biased to outwardly extend from the opposite sides thereof and yieldably upon engagement with said weight means receptacle to permit a portion of said auger assembly to be seated therein and extendable under its bias to pass through said apertures for releasable securement therewith.

Claim 5

The invention as defined in claim 1 including an elongated slide member movably carried on said turntable; and a pair of spaced apart links pivotally connected to one end of said slide member and connected to said frame by universal joints so as to permit said frame to tilt as its midsection in a fore-and-aft direction and in a port and starboard direction.

Claim 6

The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said hydraulic means includes a first piston and cylinder assemblage pivotally connected at its opposite ends to said frame and said slide member so as to extend in a transverse direction across said slide member; and a second piston and cylinder assembly pivotally connected at its opposite ends to said slide member and to said frame so as to extend in a fore-and-aft direction normal to the direction of extension of said first piston and cylinder assembly.

Claim 7

The invention as defined in claim 5 including a third piston and cylinder assembly pivotally connected on its opposite ends between said frame and said auger assembly; and means for detachably supporting said auger assembly on said third piston and cylinder assembly.

Claim 8

The invention as defined in claim 6 including an extendable beam pivotally secured at one end to the upper end of said frame and universally jointed at its other end to said slide member; and said first and second piston and cylinder assemblies being connected to said frame via said beam.

Claim 9

In an earth boring and post driving apparatus, the combination comprising: a self-propelled mobile carrier; an elongated, retractable frame having upper and lower side members, said side members comprising guide means for guiding movement of weight means along and between said side members; a turntable rotatably mounted on said mobile carrier; a slide member slidably carried on said turntable; means pivotally coupled between said frame at its midsection and said slide member for selectively pivoting said frame to and from a first position substantially perpendicular to the ground and a second position at a substantial angle to the ground above said mobile carrier; universal mounting means movably connected between said carrier and said pivotally supported frame so as to cantilever said frame laterally and rearward of said mobile carrier; an earth auger assembly movably carried on said frame adapted to be advanced to an operating position disposed between said frame side members; said weight means, for an earth boring operation, being detachably coupled to said auger assembly and, for a post driving operation when said assembly is retracted from its operating position, being moved along said side members to strike the upper end of a post to drive said post into the earth; and hydraulic means for tilting said frame, slidably moving said slide member, and for advancing and retracting said auger assembly.

Claim 10

In an earth boring and post driving apparatus, the combination comprising: a self-propelled mobile carrier; an elongated, retractable frame having upper and lower side members, said side members comprising guide means for guiding movement of weight means along and between said side members; a turntable rotatably mounted on said mobile carrier; a slide member slidably carried on said turntable; means pivotally coupled between said frame at its midsection and said slide member for selectively pivoting said frame to and from a first position substantially perpendicular to the ground and a second position at a substantial angle to the ground above said mobile carrier; universal mounting means movably connected between said carrier and said pivotally supported frame so as to cantilever said frame laterally and rearward of said mobile carrier; an earth auger assembly movably carried on said frame adapted to be advanced to an operating position disposed between said frame side members; said weight means, for an earth boring operation, being detachably coupled to said auger assembly and, for a post driving operation when said assembly is retracted from its operating position, being moved along said side members to strike the upper end of a post to drive said post into the earth; and hydraulic means for tilting said frame, slidably moving said slide member, and for advancing and retracting said auger assembly.

Claim 11

The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said hydraulic means includes: an extendable beam pivotally connected between said frame and said slide member; a first piston and cylinder assemblage pivotally connected between said beam and said slide member operable to tilt said frame normal to the longitudinal axis of said carrier; a second piston and cylinder assemblage pivotally connected between said beam and said slide member operable to tilt said frame parallel to the longitudinal axis of said carrier; and a third piston and cylinder assemblage operably connected between said slide member and said turntable to advance and retract said slide member.