Abstract
A base plate apparatus that fits on a skid steer arms, teleboom or digger derrick boom system used to extract pole or pilings set deeply in the earth. Allows one person without the need for someone to hook chains or straps to extract the pole or piling. Greatly increases safety. It has a unique mounting system allowing the apparatus to be used on numerous types of equipment. The addition of a drop in tool allows the pulling of ground support anchors.
Claims
1. A mini pole removal apparatus to be used with a loader or to be used as a stand-alone unit connected to a hydraulic source comprises: a means for connecting to a loader; a means for moving the mini pole removal apparatus around without the use of a loader; a pulling means that slides along a fixed track; a clamping means that is pivotally attached to the pulling means.
2. A mini pole removal apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the fixed track comes off of a ground plate and consists of two formed members spaced so the pulling means and a hydraulic cylinder fits between them.
3. A mini pole removal apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein coming off the back of the ground plate is the means for connecting to the loader, supported by two outer walls along the ground plate and an inner wall on each side of the fixed track in the center of the ground plate.
4. A mini pole removal apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein the pulling means consists of two tubes extending upward connected at the top with a flat member to form a lifting point, two pivotally attached members in front of the tubes, with one hydraulic cylinder on each side for moving the pivotally attached members together forming a jaw-like clamp.
5. A mini pole removal apparatus as described in claim 4, wherein the pivotally attached members each consist of a removable cleated insert.
6. A mini pole removal apparatus as described in claim 4, wherein the pulling means consists of a drop-in hook
7. A mini pole removal apparatus as described in claim 6, wherein the hook consists of a handle, a cross tube, and a curved member.
8. A mini pole removal apparatus as described in claim 4, wherein the pulling means further consists of a hydraulic cylinder from claim 2 securely mounted to the lower end of the fixed track and the other end securely attached to the upper end of the pulling tubes.
9. A mini pole removal apparatus as described in claim 8, wherein the hydraulic cylinder is supplied fluid from a fluid supply source either to move the pulling means up or to move the pulling means down.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a side view of the mini pole removal apparatus in a pulling clamped position mounted on a skid steer loader.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a side view of the mini pole removal apparatus in a resting clamped position mounted on a teleboom wheel loader.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the mini pole removal apparatus in an extended open position mounted to a teleboom loader.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the mini pole removal apparatus mounted in a pulling position mounted on a skid steer loader.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a top view of the mini pole removal apparatus not mounted on any type of vehicle.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a rear end perspective view of the mini pole removal apparatus.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a front end view of the mini pole removal apparatus, in particular, retracted pulling cylinder and extended clamping cylinder.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a front end view of the mini pole removal apparatus, in particular, retracted pulling and clamping cylinders.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a front end view of the mini pole removal apparatus, in particular, extended pulling cylinder and retracted clamping cylinder.
[0019] FIG. 10 is a front end view of the mini pole removal apparatus, in particular, fully extended pulling cylinder and fully extended clamping cylinder about a utility pole.
[0020] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the mini pole removal apparatus, in particular, the pole ground anchor removal hook attached.
[0021] FIG. 12 is a front end view of the mini pole removal apparatus, in particular, the pole ground anchor removal hook attached and with clamping arms closed and raised.
[0022] FIG. 13 is a prospective view of the ground anchor removal tool.
[0023] FIG. 14 is a prospective view of the pulling and clamping components without the extraction cylinder.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] Referring to the drawing in FIGS. 1-4, in particular, the mini pole removal apparatus 21 for loaders comprises clamping arms 13 energized by the loader hydraulics 10 gives a firm pressure on metal cleat inserts 19 allowing to engage the pole 33, engages hydraulic cylinders 12 on clamping arms 13. The cleated inserts 19 have a curved surface to easily grip the round profile of a pole. Hydraulic cylinders 12,14 are electronically controlled by a hydraulic selector valve 25 to channel hydraulic fluid into a rising hydraulic cylinder 14 causing the closed pivotally attached members 13, or clamping members, 13 to rise vertically, lifting the pole 33 from the earth. The clamping members 13 and cleated inserts 19 are the clamping means that are pivotally attached to the pulling means 39. This is shown in detail in FIG. 14. The cutting edge plates 15 enable the mini pole removal apparatus to push material clear from the pole 33 giving the ground plate 23 a level platform to work from. The ground plate 23 has a rounded opening to position the pole in the clamping arms 13. The ground plate is supported by two outer walls 36 and two inner walls 37. The inner walls 37 also provide extra support between the mounting plate 22 and the extension guides 18. The extension guides 18, as part of the pulling means 39, ensures that the hydraulic cylinder 14 runs straight and controls the pole 33 as it leaves the ground. The extension guides 18 are steel tubes that slide along the fixed track 24 on the ground plate 23. The fixed track 24 is made up of two formed members spaced appropriately apart so the hydraulic cylinder 14 fits between them. 21 is a lifting point that makes it possible to move the unit with a hoist. 21 is the means for moving the mini pole removal apparatus without the use of a loader. The mounting plate 22 is the means for connecting the apparatus to be attached to a skid steer loader 31. It consists of a mounting plate with a hole pattern 16 for the skid steer loader 31 to hook up to. The hole pattern 16 in the plate allows adaption to a wide array of bolt-on mounts for switching between different brands and types of machines such as but not limited to skid steers, wheel loaders, and excavators. The battery power source 17 allows power for the operation of the electronically controlled hydraulic selector valve 25, allowing the mini pole removal apparatus to be used with any external hydraulic power source. This allows it to be used as a stand-alone unit without being physically attached to the machine 31 as long as there is an external hydraulic source.
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 11-13, the drop-in hook 38 is a ground anchor removal tool allowing for the hydraulic removal of ground support anchors used to support utility and transmission poles. The drop-in hook 38 consists of a handle 35 for inserting the hook in the jaws 13 of the pole removal apparatus. The jaws 13 clamp the cross tube 34 of the hook. The curved member 32 is what is used to grab the eyelet of the ground anchor. With the ground plate 23 flat on the ground and the drop-in hook 38 securely in the jaws 13, the hydraulic cylinder 14 is activated causing the ground anchor to rise vertically from the earth.
[0026] Various changes and departures may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited to that specifically described in the specifications or as illustrated in the drawings but only as set forth in the claims.
