IE20170019A1 - A rotator cap assembly for a post driver - Google Patents

Abstract

A rotator cap assembly (1) for a post driver has a slide mount (2) for slidably mounting the rotator cap assembly (1) on a post driver mast. A striker plate (3) projects outwardly from the slide mount (2). A post head rotator cap (4) is mounted on an underside (5) of the striker plate (3). A land (6) for engaging a rock spike is provided on the underside (5) of the striker plate (3) adjacent the rotator cap (4) and between the rotator cap (4) and the slide mount (2). The rotator cap (4) is demountably attached on the assembly (1). <Figure 1>

Description

“A Rotator Cap Assembly for a Post Driver” Introduction This invention relates to a rotator cap assembly for a post driver.

The invention particularly relates to a rotator cap assembly or post holder assembly of the type described in Patent Publication No. GB 2500295.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved rotator cap assembly for a post driver.

Summary of the Invention According to the invention there is provided a rotator cap assembly for a post driver, including: a slide mount for slidably mounting the rotator cap assembly on a post driver mast, a striker plate projecting outwardly from the slide mount, a post head rotator cap mounted on an underside of the striker plate, and a land for engaging a rock spike on the underside of the striker plate adjacent the rotator cap.

In one embodiment of the invention the land is mounted between the rotator cap and the slide mount.

In another embodiment of the invention the rotator cap is demountably attached on the assembly.

In another embodiment of the invention the rotator cap is bolted on the assembly.

In another embodiment of the invention the rotator cap comprises a post head -2receiver for slidable reception of a head of a post, said post head receiver rotatably mounted on the underside of the striker plate, and a ram mounted between the post head receiver and the slide mount or striker plate, said ram being operable to rotate the post head receiver on the striker plate.

In another embodiment of the invention the post head receiver has a flanged mounting plate at an inner end thereof, which is rotatably mounted on an associated mounting support carrier plate, said mounting support carrier plate engaging against the underside of the striker plate and being demountably secured thereto by bolts which engage between the mounting support carrier plate and the striker plate.

In another embodiment of the invention the flanged mounting plate is circular and the mounting plate is retained in a downwardly projecting arcuate circumferential guide on an underside of the mounting support.

In another embodiment of the invention the ram has two parts, namely a cylinder and an associated piston rod, one of said parts pivotally secured on a mounting block which is demountably secured to the slide mount or striker plate and the other part secured by a demountable pivot pin on the post head receiver.

In another aspect, the invention provides a post driver incorporating the rotator cap assembly.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a rotator cap assembly for a post driver according to the invention; Fig. 2 is another perspective view of the rotator cap assembly; Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the rotator cap assembly; -3Fig. 4 is an underneath plan view of the rotator cap assembly; Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the rotator cap assembly; Fig. 6 is an elevational view of a slide mount forming portion of the rotator cap assembly; Fig. 7 is an elevational view of a rotator cap forming portion of the rotator cap assembly; Fig. 8 is an elevational view of a ram mount forming portion of the rotator cap assembly; Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the rotator cap assembly in use for driving a post; Fig. 10 is an elevational view corresponding to Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the rotator cap assembly in use for driving a rock spike; and Fig. 12 is an elevational view corresponding to Fig. 11.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a rotator cap assembly according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The rotator cap assembly 1 has a slide mount 2 for slidably mounting the rotator cap assembly 1 on a post driver mast. A striker plate 3 projects outwardly from the slide mount 2. A post head rotator cap 4 is mounted on an underside 5 of the striker plate 3. A land 6 for engaging a rock spike 7 (Fig. 11) is provided on the underside of the striker plate 3 adjacent the rotator cap 4 and between the rotator cap 4 and the slide mount 2. The land 6 is a flat surface of sufficient size to receive the rock spike 7. The rotator cap 4 is demountably attached on the assembly 1. -4The slide mount 2 comprises a pair of inwardly facing channels 10, 11 interconnected by a channel section cross member 12. Upright support walls 14, 15 project outwardly from the cross member 12 to support the striker plate 3. Thus, the striker plate 3 is supported in a horizontal position, or rather it is perpendicular to the sliding axis of the slide mount 2.

The rotator cap 4 comprises a post head receiver 18 forming a socket for receiving a post 19 (Fig. 9) for driving the post 19 into the ground. In the drawings, a rectangular section post head receiver 18 is shown, however, it will be appreciated that post head receivers 18 of any required section may be provided, for example, circular section, square section or polygonal section for driving posts 19 of different section.

The post head receiver 18 is rotatably mounted on the underside 5 of the striker plate 3. A flanged mounting plate 20 is provided at an inner end of the post head receiver 18 and is rotatably mounted on an associated mounting support carrier plate 22 which bolts to the underside 5 of the striker plate 3 by means of bolts (not shown) which engage through holes 23, 24 at opposite sides of the carrier plate 22. It will be noted that the flanged mounting plate 20 is circular and is retained between downwardly projecting arcuate circumferential guides 26, 27 on an underside of the carrier plate 22.

A rotator cap 4 actuating ram 30 is mounted between the post head receiver 18 and the slide mount 2. The ram 30 is operable to rotate the post head receiver 18 on the striker plate 3. The ram 30 comprises a cylinder 31 and associated piston rod 32. A bushing 33 pivotally engages a mounting bolt (not shown) which engages through the bushing 33 and with associated through holes 34, 35 in mounting brackets 36, 37 on an outer side wall of the post head receiver 18.

The cylinder 30 is mounted on a swivel block 39, rotatably mounted by a pivot pin 40 on a mounting bracket 41. The mounting bracket 41 comprises a flanged base 42 with a pair of spaced-apart outwardly extending arms 43, 44 between which the swivel block 39 locates and which engage each end of the pivot pin 40. The flanged base 42 is demountably secured on a side panel 45 which projects forwardly from the slide mount 2 outside the support wall 14. The mounting bracket -541 is demountably secured on the panel 45 by bolts (not shown) which engage through holes 48, 49 in the flanged base 42 and associated threaded holes 50, 51 in the panel 45.

In use, the rotator cap assembly 1 is mounted on the mast of a post driver with the slide mount 2 slidably engaging the mast for vertical movement of the rotator cap assembly 1 on the mast of the post driver. The rotator cap 4 can be engaged with a post 19 (Figs. 9 and 10) in the usual way for driving the post 19 into the ground by means of a hammer mounted on the mast of the post driver above the rotator cap assembly 4 which is dropped onto the striker plate 3 to hammer the post 19 into the ground.

When required a rock spike 7 mounted on the post driver can be swivelled in under the striker plate 3 to engage with the land 6 for driving the rock spike 7 into the ground by means of the hammer on the post driver. It will be appreciated that the rotator cap 4 does not need to be removed from the striker plate 3 for operation of the rock spike 7.

It will also be appreciated that the rotator cap 4 can be removed from the rotator cap assembly 1 if required. The carrier plate 22 is simply unbolted from the bottom of the striker plate 3 and the ram mounting bracket 41 is unbolted from the panel 45 at a side of the rotator cap assembly 1. When the rotator cap 4 is removed, the striker plate 3 can be used as a standard cap for driving posts. Then as a rotator cap 4 is required, it can be simply bolted onto the assembly 1. Attaching the rotator cap 4 is a safe operation as the bulky and heavy striker plate 3 assembly does not need to be removed from the post driver. It will be noted also that all the mounting bolts for securing the rotator cap 4 on the striker plate 3 and panel 45 are beneath the striker plate 3 and thus are safe from the hammer on the post driver.

As all parts of the rotator cap 4 are bolted onto the slide mount and striker plate, a rotator cap 4 might be supplied as a separate kit for retro fitting to existing cap assemblies on post drivers.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (10)

1. A rotator cap assembly for a post driver, including: a slide mount for slidably mounting the rotator cap assembly on a post driver mast, a striker plate projecting outwardly from the slide mount, a post head rotator cap mounted on an underside of the striker plate, and a land for engaging a rock spike on the underside of the striker plate adjacent the rotator cap.

2. The rotator cap assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the land is mounted between the rotator cap and the slide mount.

3. The rotator cap assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the rotator cap is demountably attached on the assembly.

4. The rotator cap assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the rotator cap is bolted on the assembly.

5. The rotator cap assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the rotator cap comprises a post head receiver for slidable reception of a head of a post, said post head receiver rotatably mounted on the underside of the striker plate, and a ram mounted between the post head receiver and the slide mount or striker plate, said ram being operable to rotate the post head receiver on the striker plate.

6. The rotator cap assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein the post head receiver has a flanged mounting plate at an inner end thereof, which is rotatably mounted on an associated mounting support carrier plate, said mounting support carrier plate engaging against the underside of the striker plate and being demountably secured thereto by bolts which engage between -7the mounting support carrier plate and the striker plate.

7. The rotator cap assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the flanged mounting plate is circular and the mounting plate is retained in a downwardly projecting 5 arcuate circumferential guide on an underside of the mounting support.

8. The rotator cap assembly as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the ram has two parts, namely a cylinder and an associated piston rod, one of said parts pivotally secured on a mounting block which is demountably 10 secured to the slide mount or striker plate and the other part secured by a demountable pivot pin on the post head receiver.

9. A rotator cap assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A post driver incorporating the rotator cap assembly as claimed in any preceding claim.