Apparatus for underground treatment of poles

Claim 2

In a preservative injection device for the below-grade application of preservative material to the ground-implanted portion of a pole, including a pressurized source of preservative material and a probe driving mechanism adapted for positioning adjacent a pole to be treated, the improvement comprising, a pair of opposed semicylindrical hollow spadelike probes, means mounting said probes on said driving mechanism for releasable surrounding association with a pole, and means for supplying preservative under pressure to said probes, each of said probes having a convex inner pole-facing surface defining a plurality of injection apertures, whereby preservative material can be pressure injected over a substantial surface area of the groundimplanted portion of the pole when said probes are driven into the ground by the probe-driving mechanism in surrounding juxtaposition with the portion of the pole to be treated.

Claim 3

A preservative injection device as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said probes comprises spaced inner and outer shells, the inner shell defining said plurality of apertures for directing preservative against the pole surface, and spacing means intermediate said shells for holding said shells in spaced relation as the probe is driven into the ground adjacent the pole.

Claim 4

A preservative injection device as defined in claim 2, wherein the outer shell defines at its upper end a manifold for receiving preservative material under pressure from the pressurized source thereof.

Claim 5

A preservative injection device for the below-grade pressurized application of liquid preservative material to ground-implanted poles, said device comprising, in combination, clamping means adapted to grip and positively engage the pole at a point above ground level, a plurality of driving motor means mounted on said clamping means, a pair of spadelike probes operatively engaged with and mounted on said driving motor means, said probe means being adapted to substantially surround the pole and extending downwardly for ground penetration adjacent the ground-implanted portion of the pole upon operation of said driving motor means, means for supplying preservative under pressure to said probe means, and said probe means defining a plurality of injection apertures in the pole facing surface thereof whereby preservative can be pressure-injected over a substantial surface are of the ground-implanted portion of the pole.

Claim 6

A preservative injection device for the below-grade pressurized application of liquid preservative material to ground-implanted poles, said device comprising, in combination, clamping means adapted to grip and positively engage the pole at a point above ground level, a plurality of driving motor means mounted on said clamping means, a pair of spadelike probes operatively engaged with and mounted on said driving motor means, said probe means being adapted to substantially surround the pole and extending downwardly for ground penetration adjacent the ground-implanted portion of the pole upon operation of said driving motor means, means for supplying preservative under pressure to said probe means, and said probe means defining a plurality of injection apertures in the pole facing surface thereof whereby preservative can be pressure-injected over a substantial surface are of the ground-implanted portion of the pole.

Claim 7

A preservative injection device as defined in claim 4, wherein said clamping means comprises a pair of arcuate arms, a clamping plate secured to each of said arms, a plurality of gripping pins mounted on each said clamping plate for gripping engagement with a pole, and pressure fluid actuated means for actuating said arms to engage and grip the surface of a pole to be treated.

Claim 8

A preservative injection device as defined in claim 4, wherein each said probe is formed by spaced substantially semicylindrical bluntly pointed inner and outer shell members joined together along their edges, means interposed between said shell members for holding the shell members in spaced relation as said probes are driven into the ground, and means defining a manifold on the outer shell member adjacent the upper end of each said probe.

Claim 9

A preservative injection device as defined in claim 4, wherein said motor means comprises three piston and cylinder motors, with said clamping means being mounted on the cylinder portion of said motors and said probe means being mounted on the piston portion of said motors.

Claim 10

A preservative injection device as defined in claim 7, wherein a pair of spaced arms are pivotally mounted at one end on one of said motors, said arms each carrying at its opposite end another one of said motors, means on each of said arms for gripping the surface of a pole to be treated, and power means for moving said arms together to grip the pole.