US2014345894A1PendingUtilityA1

Pole splint driver implement

44
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: May 22, 2013Filed: May 22, 2014Published: Nov 27, 2014
Est. expiryMay 22, 2033(~6.8 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Scott J. Lacoe
E04H 12/00E02D 7/06E02D 7/18E01F 15/0484E04H 17/263
44
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims

Abstract

Disclosed embodiments are directed toward driver implements and methods for driving rigid members into a support surface. In some embodiments, the disclosed driver implement is combined with a power machine that provides operation signals to the driver implement. Other embodiments disclose a rigid member that is configured to be driven into a support surface by various embodiments of the driver implement.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An implement for driving a rigid member into a support surface, comprising:
 a frame;   a power machine interface including:
 a mounting interface operably coupled to the frame, the mounting interface configured to be mounted on an implement carrier of a power machine; and 
 a control interface configured to receive a control signal from the power machine; 
   a driving mechanism carried by the frame and configured to engage with and provide a driving force to the rigid member; and   a positioning mechanism coupled to the frame and configured to position the driving mechanism in response to a control signal received via the control interface.   
     
     
         2 . The implement of  claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a plurality of telescoping sections. 
     
     
         3 . The implement of  claim 2 , wherein the positioning mechanism includes a hydraulic cylinder capable of extending and retracting to position the driving mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . The implement of  claim 2 , wherein the positioning mechanism includes a hydraulic motor operable to position the driving mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The implement of  claim 1 , wherein the driving mechanism is configured to provide a vibratory driving force to the rigid member. 
     
     
         6 . The implement of  claim 1 , wherein the driving mechanism is configured to provide a repeated impact force to the rigid member. 
     
     
         7 . The implement of  claim 1 , wherein the driving mechanism includes an engagement feature configured to engage a rigid member while providing a driving force. 
     
     
         8 . The implement of  claim 7 , wherein the driving mechanism includes a biasing member for biasing the engagement feature toward an engagement position with a rigid member. 
     
     
         9 . The implement of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is capable of rotating with respect to the mounting interface about an axis that is normal to a major surface of the mounting interface. 
     
     
         10 . The implement of  claim 9 , and further comprising a frame rotating actuator coupled to the frame and for rotating the frame relative to the mounting interface. 
     
     
         11 . The implement of  claim 1 , and further comprising a vibration inducing actuator that is capable of introducing vibration into the driving mechanism. 
     
     
         12 . The implement of  claim 1  and further comprising a holding mechanism capable of being positioned relative to a rigid member for holding the rigid member. 
     
     
         13 . A rigid member configured to be driven into a support surface via engagement with the implement of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . The rigid member of  claim 13 , wherein the rigid member has a plurality of spaced apart engagement features capable of being engaged by the driving mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The rigid member of  claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of spaced apart engagement features includes an aperture that extends through the rigid member. 
     
     
         16 . The rigid member of  claim 13  and further comprising an interface member attachable to the rigid member, the interface member having a plurality of spaced apart engagement features capable of being engaged by the driving mechanism. 
     
     
         17 . A method of driving a rigid member into a support surface, comprising:
 coupling an implement to a power machine, the implement having a control interface for receiving a control signal from the power machine;   placing the rigid member in a selected position for insertion into the support surface;   placing the implement in position to engage the rigid member;   providing a control signal from the power machine to a positioning mechanism on the implement to cause the positioning mechanism to position a driving mechanism in a drive position relative to the rigid member; and   transferring a driving force to the rigid member via the driving mechanism to urge the rigid member into the support surface.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein providing the control signal includes manipulating an operator control input in the power machine. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein transferring the driving force to the rigid member includes providing an actuation signal to a driving mechanism. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein providing the actuation signal to the driving mechanism includes providing the actuation signal from the power machine. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein providing the control signal to the positioning mechanism includes providing a pressurized flow of hydraulic fluid to the positioning mechanism. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein providing the control signal to the positioning mechanism includes providing an electrical signal from the power machine to the implement. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein causing the positioning mechanism to position the driving mechanism includes positioning the driving mechanism adjacent an end of the rigid member. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein causing the positioning mechanism to position the driving mechanism includes positioning the driving mechanism adjacent one of a plurality of engagement features on the rigid member. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein causing the positioning mechanism to position the driving mechanism includes providing a downward force on the rigid member. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 17  and further comprising attaching an interface member having a plurality of spaced apart engagement features capable of being engaged by the driving mechanism to the rigid member. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein placing the rigid member in a selected position for insertion into the support surface includes placing the rigid member adjacent a pole such that inserting the rigid member will reinforce the pole. 
     
     
         28 . A power machine in combination with an implement configured to urge a rigid member into a support surface, wherein:
 the power machine comprises:
 a power machine frame; 
 a power source; 
 an operator input; 
 an implement interface that provides a connection point for providing a control signal; and 
   the implement comprises:
 an implement frame; 
 a power machine interface, including:
 a mounting interface operably coupled to the frame, the mounting interface configured to be mounted on an implement carrier of a power machine; and 
 a control interface configured to receive a control signal from the power machine; 
 
 a driving mechanism carried by the implement frame and configured to engage with and provide a driving force to the rigid member; and 
 a positioning mechanism coupled to the implement frame and configured to position the driving mechanism in response to a control signal received via the control interface. 
   
     
     
         29 . A splint for reinforcing a powerline pole, comprising:
 a vertical member having a plurality of spaced apart engagement members along a vertical surface thereof, the engagement members being configured to be engaged by a driving implement to drive the pole splint into a support surface.   
     
     
         30 . An interface member for attachment to a pole splint comprising:
 a vertical member having a plurality of spaced apart engagement members along a vertical surface thereof, the engagement members being configured to be engaged by a driving implement to drive the pole splint into a support surface; and   an adapter positioned on one end of the vertical member, the adapter having a feature configured to assist in positioning the interface member adjacent the pole splint while the pole splint is being driving into the support surface.

Join the waitlist — get patent alerts

Track US2014345894A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.

We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.