Post driving apparatus

Claim 2

A post driving apparatus comprising: a mounting frame assembly for detachably mounting the apparatus on a shelf-propelled vehicle, said mounting frame comprising: an adjustable, U-shaped sub-frame adapted for attachment to variously sized self-propelled vehicles; a pair of substantially horizontally aligned sleeves mounted on said U-shaped frame; and an elongated mounting member extended slidably through said sleeves for free rotation about its longitudinal axis; a vertically extending mast assembly pivotally connected to said mounting member for pivotation on said frame assembly about horizontal and vertical axes; and a post driving assembly slidably and reciprocably mounted on said mast assembly for driving a post into the earth.

Claim 3

A post driving apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further characterized as including: bracket means mounted on one end of said elongated mounting member; and a mast supporting framework having a first end pivotally connected to said bracket means for pivotation about horizontal and vertical axes, and having a second end connected to said mast assembly.

Claim 4

A post driving apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further characterized as including: bracket means secured to one end of said elongated mounting member and connected to said mast assembly for pivotation of the mast assembly about horizontal and vertical axes; a vertically extending standard mounted on said bracket means and projecting upwardly therefrom; a first adjustable linkage subassembly connected between the upper end portion of said standard and one of the legs Of said U-shaped subframe; and a second adjustable linkage subassembly connected between the upper end portion of said standard and said mast assembly.

Claim 5

A post driving apparatus comprising: a mounting frame assembly for detachably mounting the apparatus on a self-propelled vehicle; a vertically extending mast assembly pivotally mounted on the mounting frame assembly for pivotation about horizontal and vertical axes, said mast assembly comprising: a pair of substantially parallel, vertically extending guide members, each of said guide members including a vertically extending, substantially V-shaped convex guiding surface, and a rearwardly extending flange; and means rigidly interconnecting said guide members; a pair of horizontally spaced, hollow weight boxes, each having a vertically extending, V-shaped groove formed therein slidably receiving one of said V-shaped convex guiding surfaces; and means interconnecting said weight boxes and defining therewith, a vertically extending post receiving channel having post driving means at the upper end thereof.

Claim 6

A post driving apparatus comprising: a mounting frame assembly for detachably mounting the apparatus on a self-propelled vehicle; a vertically extending mast assembly pivotally mounted on the mounting frame assembly for pivotation about horizontal and vertical axes, said mast assembly comprising: a pair of substantially parallel, vertically extending guide members, each of said guide members including a vertically extending, substantially V-shaped convex guiding surface, and a rearwardly extending flange; and means rigidly interconnecting said guide members; a pair of horizontally spaced, hollow weight boxes, each having a vertically extending, V-shaped groove formed therein slidably receiving one of said V-shaped convex guiding surfaces; and means interconnecting said weight boxes and defining therewith, a vertically extending post receiving channel having post driving means at the upper end thereof.

Claim 7

A post driving apparatus as defined in claim 4 and further characterized as including: a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly mounted on said mast assembly and including a piston rod extendable in a vertical direction; and ratchet means on said post driving assembly engageable with said piston rod only upon extension thereof to elevate said post driving assembly on said mast assembly.

Claim 8

A post driving apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said mounting frame assembly comprises: an adjustable, U-shaped subframe adapted for attachment to variously sized self-propelled vehicles; a pair of substantially horizontally aligned sleeves mounted on said U-shaped subframe; and an elongated mounting member extended slidably through said sleeves and having said mast assembly pivotally connected thereto.

Claim 9

A post driving apparatus as defined in claim 6 and further characterized as including: bracket means mounted on one end of said elongated mounting member; and a mast supporting framework having a first end pivotally connected to said bracket means for pivotation about horizontal and vertical axes, and having a second end connected to said rearwardly extending flanges of said guide members.

Claim 10

A post driving apparatus as defined in claim 7 and further characterized as including: a vertically extending standard mounted on said bracket means and projecting upwardly therefrom; and linkage means interconnecting the upper end of said standard with said guide members and with said subframe.

Claim 11

A post driving apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said linkage means comprises: a first adjustable linkage subassembly connected between the upper end portion of said standard and one of the legs of said U-shaped subframe; and a second adjustable linkage subassembly connected between the upper end portion of said standard and said mast assembly.

Claim 12

Apparatus for driving fence posts into the earth comprising: a mast assembly including generally vertically extending, convex, V-shaped guiding surfaces; a post driving assembly slidably and reciprocably mounted on said mast assembly and including elongated, V-shaped grooves receiving said guiding surfaces; a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly pivotally connected to said mast assembly and including a piston rod detachably engageable with said post driving assembly for elevating said post driving assembly on said mast assembly only when the piston rod of said piston and cylinder assembly is extended; guide track plates for automatically disengaging said hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly from said post driving assembly at the full extension of said piston rod; and means for movably mounting said mast assembly on a vehicle.

Claim 13

Apparatus for driving fence posts into the earth comprising: a mast assembly including generally vertically extending, convex, V-shaped guiding surfaces; a post driving assembly slidably and reciprocably mounted on said mast assembly and including elongated, V-shaped grooves receiving said guiding surfaces; a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly pivotally connected to said mast assembly and including a piston rod detachably engageable with said post driving assembly for elevating said post driving assembly on said mast assembly only when the piston rod of said piston and cylinder assembly is extended; guide track plates for automatically disengaging said hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly from said post driving assembly at the full extension of said piston rod; and means for movably mounting said mast assembly on a vehicle.

Claim 14

Apparatus for driving posts comprising: a post driving assembly including weight boxes and a driver plate defining a vertically extending channel for receiving a post to be driven; means for mounting said post driving assembly on a supporting vehicle for independent pivotation about two horizontal axes and a vertical axis extending normal to one of said horizontal axes; means for selectively locking said post driving assembly in a selected position of pivotation about said vertical axis; and means for hydraulically elevating said post driving assembly to a release position followed by automatic release of said post driving assembly to a free falling status.

Claim 15

Apparatus for driving posts comprising: a post driving assembly including weight boxes and a driver plate defining a vertically extending channel for receiving a post to be driven; means for mounting said post driving assembly on a supporting vehicle for independent pivotation about two horizontal axes and a vertical axis extending normal to one of said horizontal axes; means for selectively locking said post driving assembly in a selected position of pivotation about said vertical axis; and means for hydraulically elevating said post driving assembly to a release position followed by automatic release of said post driving assembly to a free falling status.

Claim 16

Apparatus for driving posts comprising: a post driving assembly including weight boxes and a driver plate defining a vertically extending channel for receiving a post to be driven; means for mounting said post driving assembly on a supporting vehicle for independent pivotation about two horizontal axes and a vertical axis extending normal to one of said horizontal axes, said mounting means comprising: a U-shaped sub-frame; an elongated tubular mounting member rotatably supported on said sub-frame for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said mounting member and extending substantially parallel to the web portion of said U-shaped sub-frame and movable in a direction parallel to said web portion; a connection bracket mounted on one end of said mounting member; a mast supporting framework pivotally connected to said connection bracket for selective independent pivotation about a horizontal axis and a vertical axis; and a mast assembly mounted on said mast supporting framework and slidably supporting said post driving assembly; and means for selectively locking said post driving assembly in a selected position of pivotation about said vertical axis.

Claim 17

Apparatus for driving posts comprising: a post driving assembly including weight boxes and a driver plate defining a vertically extending channel for receiving a post to be driven; means for mounting said post driving assembly on a supporting vehicle for independent pivotation about two horizontal axes and a vertical axis extending normal to one of said horizontal axes, said mounting means comprising: a U-shaped sub-frame; an elongated tubular mounting member rotatably supported on said sub-frame for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said mounting member and extending substantially parallel to the web portion of said U-shaped sub-frame and movable in a direction parallel to said web portion; a connection bracket mounted on one end of said mounting member; a mast supporting framework pivotally connected to said connection bracket for selective independent pivotation about a horizontal axis and a vertical axis; and a mast assembly mounted on said mast supporting framework and slidably supporting said post driving assembly; and means for selectively locking said post driving assembly in a selected position of pivotation about said vertical axis.

Claim 18

Apparatus as defined in claim 12 and further characterized as including supporting stand means mounted on said mast supporting framework for stably supporting, with said weight boxes, said apparatus when demounted from a vehicle and rested on the ground.

Claim 19

Apparatus for driving posts comprising: a post driving assembly including weight boxes and a driver plate defining a vertically extending channel for receiving a post to be driven; means for mounting said post driving assembly on a supporting vehicle for independent pivotation about two horizontal axes, and about a vertical axis extending normal to one of said horizontal axes, said means for mounting said post driving assembly on a supporting vehicle including: a sub-frame configured for securement to the vehicle; a mounting member supported on the subframe for rotation about a horizontal axis; a mast supporting framework connected to said mounting member for selective independent pivotation about a horizontal axis and about a vertical axis; a mast assembly mounted on said mast supporting framework and slidably supporting said post driving assembly; means for selectively locking said post driving assembly, mast assembly and mast supporting framework in a selected position of pivotation about said vertical axis; and supporting stand means mounted on said mast supporting framework for stably supporting with said weight boxes as a three-point support, said apparatus when demounted from a vehicle and rested on the ground.

Claim 20

Apparatus for driving posts comprising: a post driving assembly including weight boxes and a driver plate defining a vertically extending channel for receiving a post to be driven; means for mounting said post driving assembly on a supporting vehicle for independent pivotation about two horizontal axes, and about a vertical axis extending normal to one of said horizontal axes, said means for mounting said post driving assembly on a supporting vehicle including: a sub-frame configured for securement to the vehicle; a mounting member supported on the subframe for rotation about a horizontal axis; a mast supporting framework connected to said mounting member for selective independent pivotation about a horizontal axis and about a vertical axis; a mast assembly mounted on said mast supporting framework and slidably supporting said post driving assembly; means for selectively locking said post driving assembly, mast assembly and mast supporting framework in a selected position of pivotation about said vertical axis; and supporting stand means mounted on said mast supporting framework for stably supporting with said weight boxes as a three-point support, said apparatus when demounted from a vehicle and rested on the ground.

Claim 21

A post driving apparatus comprising: a mounting frame assembly for detachably mounting the apparatus on a self-propelled vehicle; a vertically extending mast assembly pivotally mounted on the mounting frame assembly for pivotation about horizontal and vertical axes; and a post driving assembly slidably and reciprocably mounted on said mast assembly for driving a post into the earth, said post driving assembly comprising: weight means reciprocably mounted on said mast assembly; a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly mounted on said mast assembly for pivotation about a horizontal axis, said hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly including a piston rod extendable in a verticaL direction; ratchet means carried on said weight means and reciprocable therewith, said ratchet means being engageable with said piston rod in one position to which said hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly can be pivoted on said horizontal pivotal axis whereby said weight means is engageable with said piston rod upon extension of said piston rod to elevate said weight means on said mast assembly; guide track plates extending along the path of travel of said piston rod; and cam rollers carried by said piston rod and tracking on said guide track means for causing said piston and cylinder assembly to pivot about said horizontal axis and thereby disengage said piston rod from said weight means at a time when said piston rod approaches a position of full extension from the cylinder of said piston and cylinder assembly.

Claim 22

A post driving apparatus comprising: a mounting frame assembly for detachably mounting the apparatus on a self-propelled vehicle; a vertically extending mast assembly pivotally mounted on the mounting frame assembly for pivotation about horizontal and vertical axes; and a post driving assembly slidably and reciprocably mounted on said mast assembly for driving a post into the earth, said post driving assembly comprising: weight means reciprocably mounted on said mast assembly; a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly mounted on said mast assembly for pivotation about a horizontal axis, said hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly including a piston rod extendable in a verticaL direction; ratchet means carried on said weight means and reciprocable therewith, said ratchet means being engageable with said piston rod in one position to which said hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly can be pivoted on said horizontal pivotal axis whereby said weight means is engageable with said piston rod upon extension of said piston rod to elevate said weight means on said mast assembly; guide track plates extending along the path of travel of said piston rod; and cam rollers carried by said piston rod and tracking on said guide track means for causing said piston and cylinder assembly to pivot about said horizontal axis and thereby disengage said piston rod from said weight means at a time when said piston rod approaches a position of full extension from the cylinder of said piston and cylinder assembly.