Ground anchor apparatus

Claim 2

A ground anchor apparatus which comprises: an elongated tubular housing having a first pair of oppositely facing slots disposed in the opposite sides thereof, and having an upper end and a lower end; an elongated rigid shaft positioned axially within said housing; a first cam block positioned within, and bearing slidably against, said housing adjacent said first pair of slots, said first cam block including an axial opening through which said shaft is slidably disposed, and a pair of oppositely facing cam surfaces on the lower portion thereof; a first pair of oppositely facing flukes disposed within said housing below said cam block and on diametrically opposite sides of said elongated rigid shaft, said flukes being positioned to contact said cam surfaces of said cam block and to extend through said first pair of slots in said housing upon the upward movement of said flukes; and means movably connecting said flukes to said shaft so that when said shaft is moved axially upward within said housing, said flukes are moved upwardly into sliding contact with said cam surfaces of said cam block thereby extending said flukes upwardly and outwardly from said housing through said first pair of slots, said means for movably connecting said flukes to said shaft including peripheral portions bearing against the inside of said housing and a central portion receiving and connected to said shaft, whereby said shaft is supported in a central position in said housing by said connecting means.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 which is further characterized to include: said first pair of slots each including an upwardly facing surface for engaging said first pair of flukes when said flukes are extended radially outwardly from said housing so that when said shaft is moved axially downwardly within said housing said flukes are moved into sliding contact with said upwardly facing surfaces of said slots thereby causing said flukes to be retracted into said housing.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each of said flukes is of an arcuate configuration having a convex upper surface for contacting one of said cam surfaces of said cam block and a concave lower surface for contacting one of said upwardly facing surfaces of said slots so that upon axial upward movement of said shaft said flukes are moved upwardly and radially outwardly from said housing with the body of the fluke following the point at the leading end thereof and upon axial downward movement of said shaft said flukes are retracted downwardly and radially inwardly into said housing.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for movably connecting said flukes to said shaft includes: a subsTantially rectangular block rigidly attached to said shaft; a pair of link members slidably disposed around opposite ends of said block; and one end of each of said oppositely facing flukes being rotatably attached to one of said link members.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 which is further characterized to include a cover sealingly attached to the lower end of said housing.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 which is further characterized to include: said shaft extending above the top of said housing; a link attached to the upper end of said shaft; and a cover sealingly attached to the upper end of said housing, said cover having an opening therein through which said shaft is slidably disposed.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 which is further characterized to include: a lock ring detachably secured within said housing above said first pair of slots, said lock ring including a downwardly facing shoulder; and said first cam block including an upwardly facing shoulder for matingly contacting said downwardly facing shoulder of said lock ring, thereby preventing the upward movement of said cam block while allowing downward movement thereof when said apparatus is disassembled.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1 which is further characterized to include: said housing including a second pair of oppositely facing slots disposed therein; a second cam block secured within said housing adjacent said second pair of slots, said second cam block including an axial opening through which said shaft is slidably disposed and a pair of oppositely facing cam surfaces on a lower portion thereof; a second pair of oppositely facing flukes disposed within said housing below said second cam block positioned to contact said cam surfaces thereof and extend through said second pair of slots in said housing upon the upward movement thereof; and means for movably connecting said flukes to said shaft attached thereto so that when said shaft is moved axially upward within said housing, said second pair of flukes are moved upwardly into sliding contact with said cam surfaces of said second cam block thereby extending said flukes upwardly and outwardly from said housing through said second pair of slots.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8 which is further characterized to include: said second pair of slots each including an upwardly facing surface for engaging said second pair of flukes when said flukes are extended radially outwardly from said housing so that when said shaft is moved axially downward within said housing said flukes are moved into sliding contact with said upwardly facing surfaces of said slots thereby causing said flukes to be retracted into said housing.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein each of said second pair of flukes is of an arcuate configuration having a convex upper surface for contacting one of said cam surfaces of said second cam block and a concave lower surface for contacting one of said upwardly facing surfaces of said second pair of slots so that upon axial upward movement of said shaft, said second pair of flukes are moved upwardly and radially outwardly from said housing with the body of each of said flukes following the point at the upper end thereof, and upon axial downward movement of said shaft, said second pair of flukes are retracted downwardly and radially inwardly into said housing.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein each of said means for movably connecting each of said pairs of flukes to said shaft includes: a substantially rectangular block rigidly attached to said shaft; a pair of link members slidably disposed around said opposite ends of said rectangular block; and one end of each of said flukes in each of said pairs of oppositely facing flukes being rotatably attached to one of said link members.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 11 which is further characterized to include a cover sealingly attached to the lower end of said housing.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 12 which is further Characterized to include: said shaft extending above the top of said housing; a link attached to the upper end of said shaft; and a cover sealingly attached to the upper end of said housing, said cover having an opening therein through which said shaft is slidably disposed.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 13 which is further characterized to include: a second sleeve rigidly attached within said housing above said second pair of slots, said second sleeve including a downwardly facing shoulder; and said second cam block including an upwardly facing shoulder for matingly contacting said downwardly facing shoulder of said second sleeve thereby preventing upward movement of said cam block.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 14 which is further characterized to include: a dirt cover disposed around the sides of said housing and over said first and second pairs or slots, said dirt cover including first and second pairs of oppositely facing slits disposed therein and positioned to lie adjacent said first and second pairs of oppositely facing slots in said housing.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said housing and said dirt cover are cylindrical in shape.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said link members are retained on opposite ends of said block by the restrictive confinement of portions of said housing immediately adjacent the opposite ends of said block.

Claim 19

A ground anchor apparatus comprising: an elongated tubular housing having at least one slot formed in a side thereof and having an upper end and a lower end; an elongated shaft of polygonal cross section extending axially in said tubular housing; a cam block removably mounted in said housing adjacent said slot and including an opening through which said shaft is movably extended, and a cam surface on the side of said block nearest the lower end of the tubular housing; a block in said housing and attached to said shaft for axial and rotative movement therewith, said block fitting within said housing to afford clearance from said housing on two opposed sides thereof and to extend substantially to said housing at the opposite ends thereof; a link member removably disposed around said block for removal therefrom over an end of said block when the block is removed from said housing; an arcuate pointed fluke pivotally connected to said link for pivotation about a horizontal axis and positioned to contact and follow said cam surface when said shaft and block are moved axially in said housing; and a cover sealingly closing the upper end of said tubular housing and rotatable thereon, said cover having a polygonal opening therein receiving and keyingly engaging said shaft; and means for retaining the cover at a position on said housing such that the point of said fluke is aligned with said slot and adjacent said cam surface.

Claim 20

A ground anchor apparatus comprising: an elongated tubular housing having at least one slot formed in a side thereof and having an upper end and a lower end; an elongated shaft of polygonal cross section extending axially in said tubular housing; a cam block removably mounted in said housing adjacent said slot and including an opening through which said shaft is movably extended, and a cam surface on the side of said block nearest the lower end of the tubular housing; a block in said housing and attached to said shaft for axial and rotative movement therewith, said block fitting within said housing to afford clearance from said housing on two opposed sides thereof and to extend substantially to said housing at the opposite ends thereof; a link member removably disposed around said block for removal therefrom over an end of said block when the block is removed from said housing; an arcuate pointed fluke pivotally connected to said link for pivotation about a horizontal axis and positioned to contact and follow said cam surface when said shaft and block are moved axially in said housing; and a cover sealingly closing the upper end of said tubular housing and rotatable thereon, said cover having a polygonal opening therein receiving and keyingly engaging said shaft; and means for retaining the cover at a position on said housing such that the point of said fluke is aligned with said slot and adjacent said cam surface.

Claim 21

A ground anchor apparatus as defined in claim 18 and further characterized as including a resilient and flexible dirt cover around the outside of said tubular housing at the location of said slot, said dirt cover including a slit adjacent said slot and yieldable portions on opposite sides of said slit.

Claim 22

A ground anchor apparatus which comprises: an elongated tubular housing having a first pair of oppositely facing slots disposed in the opposite sides thereof, and having an upper end and a lower end; an elongated rigid shaft positioned axially within said housing and extending above the top of said housing, said shaft having a polygonal cross-section; a link attached to the upper end of said shaft; a cover sealingly attached to the upper end of said housing and having a polygonally shaped opening in said cover receiving the upper portion of said shaft to prevent rotation of said shaft in said cover, whereby the position of said cover on said housing determines the position of said shaft within said housing; a cover sealingly attached to the lower end of said housing; a first cam block pOsitioned within said housing adjacent said first pair of slots, said first cam block including an axial opening through which said shaft is slidably disposed, and a pair of oppositely facing cam surfaces on the lower portion of said cam block; a first pair of oppositely facing flukes disposed within said housing below said cam block positioned to contact said cam surfaces thereof and for extending through said first pair of slots in said housing upon the upward movement of said flukes, each of said flukes have an arcuate configuration and further having a convex upper surface for contacting one of said cam surfaces of said cam block, and a concave lower surface for contacting an upwardly facing surface defining the lower side of each of said slots in said first pair of slots; and a substantially rectangular block rigidly attached to said shaft; a pair of link members slidably disposed around opposite ends of said block; and, one end of each of said oppositely facing flukes being rotatably attached to one of said link members whereby upon upward movement of said shaft, said flukes are moved upwardly and radially outwardly from said housing with the body of the fluke following the point at the leading end thereof, and upon axial downward movement of said shaft said flukes are retracted downwardly and radially inwardly into said housing.

Claim 23

A ground anchor apparatus which comprises: an elongated tubular housing having a first pair of oppositely facing slots disposed in the opposite sides thereof, and having an upper end and a lower end; an elongated rigid shaft positioned axially within said housing and extending above the top of said housing, said shaft having a polygonal cross-section; a link attached to the upper end of said shaft; a cover sealingly attached to the upper end of said housing and having a polygonally shaped opening in said cover receiving the upper portion of said shaft to prevent rotation of said shaft in said cover, whereby the position of said cover on said housing determines the position of said shaft within said housing; a cover sealingly attached to the lower end of said housing; a first cam block pOsitioned within said housing adjacent said first pair of slots, said first cam block including an axial opening through which said shaft is slidably disposed, and a pair of oppositely facing cam surfaces on the lower portion of said cam block; a first pair of oppositely facing flukes disposed within said housing below said cam block positioned to contact said cam surfaces thereof and for extending through said first pair of slots in said housing upon the upward movement of said flukes, each of said flukes have an arcuate configuration and further having a convex upper surface for contacting one of said cam surfaces of said cam block, and a concave lower surface for contacting an upwardly facing surface defining the lower side of each of said slots in said first pair of slots; and a substantially rectangular block rigidly attached to said shaft; a pair of link members slidably disposed around opposite ends of said block; and, one end of each of said oppositely facing flukes being rotatably attached to one of said link members whereby upon upward movement of said shaft, said flukes are moved upwardly and radially outwardly from said housing with the body of the fluke following the point at the leading end thereof, and upon axial downward movement of said shaft said flukes are retracted downwardly and radially inwardly into said housing.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 20 and further characterized as including means for fixing the rotational position of said cover on said housing to align said link members and flukes with said oppositely facing slots in said housing.

Claim 25

A ground anchor apparatus comprising: an elongated tubular housing having a first pair of oppositely facing slots disposed in the opposite sides thereof and equidistantly from the ends of said housing; an elongated, rigid tubular shaft extending axially in said housing and having a length greater than said housing; a cam block removably positioned within, and bearing slidably against, said housing adjacent said first pair of slots, said cam block including an axial opening through which said shaft is slidably disposed, and having a pair of oppositely facing cam surfaces on the lower portion thereof; a first pair of oppositely facing flukes disposed within said housing below said cam block positioned to contact said cam surfaces thereof, and extend through said first pair of slots in said housing upon the upward movement of said flukes; and a rigid block rigidly attached to said shaft for axial movement therewith in said housing, said block having two arcuate edges at opposite sides thereof slidably registering with, and contacting, the internal wall of said tubular housing, and further having two opposite, parallel edges on opposite sides of said block and on opposite sides of said shaft extending between said arcuate edges; and a pair of link members slidably disposed around said rigid block for sliding movement along the parallel edges thereof, and for removal from said rigid block by sliding movement past the arcuate edges of said rigid block when the rigid block is slid out of said housing, each of said link members having a portion above said rigid block and between said rigid block and said cam block rotatably attached to one end of one of said oppositely facing flukes.

Claim 26

A ground anchor apparatus comprising: an elongated tubular housing having a first pair of oppositely facing slots disposed in the opposite sides thereof and equidistantly from the ends of said housing; an elongated, rigid tubular shaft extending axially in said housing and having a length greater than said housing; a cam block removably positioned within, and bearing slidably against, said housing adjacent said first pair of slots, said cam block including an axial opening through which said shaft is slidably disposed, and having a pair of oppositely facing cam surfaces on the lower portion thereof; a first pair of oppositely facing flukes disposed within said housing below said cam block positioned to contact said cam surfaces thereof, and extend through said first pair of slots in said housing upon the upward movement of said flukes; and a rigid block rigidly attached to said shaft for axial movement therewith in said housing, said block having two arcuate edges at opposite sides thereof slidably registering with, and contacting, the internal wall of said tubular housing, and further having two opposite, parallel edges on opposite sides of said block and on opposite sides of said shaft extending between said arcuate edges; and a pair of link members slidably disposed around said rigid block for sliding movement along the parallel edges thereof, and for removal from said rigid block by sliding movement past the arcuate edges of said rigid block when the rigid block is slid out of said housing, each of said link members having a portion above said rigid block and between said rigid block and said cam block rotatably attached to one end of one of said oppositely facing flukes.

Claim 27

A ground anchor apparatus which comprises: an elongated tubular housing having a pair of oppositely facing slots disposed in the opposite sides thereof, and having an upper end and a lower end; an elongated rigid shaft positioned axially within said housing, and having a length greater than the length of said housing; a first cam block positioned within, and bearing slidably against, said housing adjacent said first pair of slots, said first cam block including an axial opening therethrough through which said shaft is slidably disposed, and having a pair of oppositely facing cam surfaces on the lower portion thereof; a first pair of oppositely facing flukEs disposed within said housing below said cam block positioned to contact the cam surfaces thereof, and to extend through said first pair of slots in said housing when said flukes are moved upwardly and biased radially outwardly with respect to said housing by contact of said flukes with said cam surfaces; means movably and detachably connecting said flukes to said shaft so that when said shaft has moved axially upwardly within said housing, said flukes are moved upwardly into sliding contact with said cam surfaces of said cam block to thereby be extended through said first pair of slots to the outer side of said housing; and a flexible and resilient dirt cover disposed around the outside of said housing at the location of said pair of slots therein, said dirt cover including a pair of oppositely facing slits disposed in substantial radial alignment with said slots, and said dirt cover being yieldable in elastic deformation in response to the projection of said flukes through the slits therein to continuously bear against said flukes and afford a dirt seal against dirt infiltrating through said slots into the interior of said housing.

Claim 28

A ground anchor apparatus which comprises: an elongated tubular housing having a pair of oppositely facing slots disposed in the opposite sides thereof, and having an upper end and a lower end; an elongated rigid shaft positioned axially within said housing, and having a length greater than the length of said housing; a first cam block positioned within, and bearing slidably against, said housing adjacent said first pair of slots, said first cam block including an axial opening therethrough through which said shaft is slidably disposed, and having a pair of oppositely facing cam surfaces on the lower portion thereof; a first pair of oppositely facing flukEs disposed within said housing below said cam block positioned to contact the cam surfaces thereof, and to extend through said first pair of slots in said housing when said flukes are moved upwardly and biased radially outwardly with respect to said housing by contact of said flukes with said cam surfaces; means movably and detachably connecting said flukes to said shaft so that when said shaft has moved axially upwardly within said housing, said flukes are moved upwardly into sliding contact with said cam surfaces of said cam block to thereby be extended through said first pair of slots to the outer side of said housing; and a flexible and resilient dirt cover disposed around the outside of said housing at the location of said pair of slots therein, said dirt cover including a pair of oppositely facing slits disposed in substantial radial alignment with said slots, and said dirt cover being yieldable in elastic deformation in response to the projection of said flukes through the slits therein to continuously bear against said flukes and afford a dirt seal against dirt infiltrating through said slots into the interior of said housing.