IE990399A1

IE990399A1 - "A Digging Tool"

Info

Publication number: IE990399A1
Application number: IE19990399A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Thomas Gerard Murray
Original assignee: Thomas Gerard Murray
Priority date: 1999-05-18
Filing date: 1999-05-18
Publication date: 2001-03-21
Also published as: IES20000382A2; GB9914111D0; GB2350135A

Abstract

A tool (1) for creating a mould and support space for erection of a strut particularly in erection of a fence, comprises a former section (3) and mounting means in the form of a stub (4) for mounting the tool (1) to a rock breaking attachment of a mechanical digger (6). The former section (3) has a ground engaging tapered end (8). A ground breaking tool in the form of a chisel bit (9) extends from the leading edge of the tapered end (8). In use, the bit (9) is offered up to a location where it is desired to create a mould in a mass of ground. By operating the digger attachment (5) the bit (9) is driven into the ground. As the tool (1) progresses into the mass of ground, the ground breaking bit (9) breaks the ground material ahead of the former section (3) into smaller pieces. The following former section (3) compresses the ground material outwards into the shape of the former. The tool is withdrawn from the mass of ground. A strut (2) is placed into the mould and support space (10) created in the mass of ground. The strut (2) is temporarily held in a desired position in the mould. A settable material is poured into the mould to surround the strut (2). A number of struts (2) define posts for supporting a fence (20).

Description

The invention relates to a tool which forms a mould to be filled with settable material for use as an anchor support for a support post placed in the mould. The invention also relates to a method of erecting a ground-engaging strut such as a fence post or the like. £) ri N A mechanical digger is usually used to create the hole by excavating material from a specified mass of ground. Because of the geometry of a mechanical digger bucket relative to a mass of ground and the associated action of the mechanical digger, a hole created in this way is effectively a channel with at least some included sidewalls. Ground material in the region of the required hole must also be excavated. As a result, the hole is much larger than that required to support a strut. Consequently, a significant proportion of the settable material required to fill the hole is excess to requirements.

It is also known in the art to create a hole by excavating ground material from a specified mass of ground using an auger drill. However, an auger drill will not easily pass larger obstructions.

In addition, each of the conventional methods described generates spoil material during the excavation. This spoil material must he disposed of subsequently because of the environmental and safety hazards associated with it.

There is therefore a need for an improved tool and a method for creating a mould and support space for erection of a strut, especially a fence post. -2IE990399 Statements of Invention According to the invention there is provided a tool for creating a mould and support space for erection of a strut, the tool comprising: a former for forming the mould; the former having a ground engaging tapered end; and means for mounting the tool to a tool operating device.

In one embodiment of the invention the tool includes a ground breaking bit at a leading end thereof. In one preferred embodiment of the invention the bit comprises a chisel bit.

In one embodiment of the invention the former is rectilinear in transverse cross section. In one preferred embodiment of the invention the former is square in transverse cross section.

In one embodiment of the invention the means for mounting the tool comprises a mounting stub for engaging an attachment of a mechanical digger.

According to the invention there is provided a method for creating a mould and support space for erection of a strut, the method comprising the steps of: (i) creating a mould using a tool as claimed in any preceding claim, (ii) placing a strut into the mould created in step (i) to anchor the strut, and, -3(iii) pouring a settable material into the mould to surround the strut in the mould.

In one embodiment of the invention the method also includes the steps of: temporarily holding the strut in position in the mould while the settable material is being poured, removing the supporting structure from the strut, and, moving the strut in the settable material to anchor the strut.

In one embodiment of the invention a hammering action is applied to the tool to create the mould. In one embodiment of the invention the tool maintains contact with the ground during the hammering action. In one preferred embodiment of the invention a mechanical digger is used to apply the hammering action to the tool.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tool according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a view illustrating the tool in a mounting engagement with an attachment of a mechanical digger; -4Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the tool being partly submerged in a mass of ground; Fig. 4 is a view illustrating the tool substantially fully submerged in a mass of ground.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross sectional view illustrating a mould and support space created by the tool; Fig. 6 is a vertical cross sectional view illustrating three moulds and support spaces created by the tool with support struts in place to support a palisade fence; Figs. 7(a) and 7(b) are further views of a fence section; Figs. 8(a) and 8(b) are enlarged views of the fence section; Fig. 9 is another perspective view of the tool; Fig. 10 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the tool; Fig. 11 is a transverse cross section of the tool; Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the tool; and Fig. 13 is a plan view of the tool. -5Detailed Description The invention proposed comprises a tool 1 for creating a mould and support space for erection of a strut such as a fence support strut 2. The tool 1 comprises a former section 3 and mounting means in the form of a stub 4 for mounting the tool 1 to a tool operating device such as an hydraulic rock breaking attachment 5 of a mechanical digger 6. The former section 3 has a ground engaging tapered end 8. A ground breaking tool 9 extends from the leading edge of the tapered end 8. The ground breaking tool 9 may be a chisel bit.

The former section 3 is rectilinear is cross section as may be seen in Fig. 1. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the former is square in cross section.

In use, the bit 9 is offered up to a location where it is desired to create a mould in a mass of ground. By operating the digger attachment 5 the bit 9 is driven into the ground, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4. As the tool progresses into the mass of ground, the ground breaking bit 9 breaks the ground material ahead of the former section 3 into smaller pieces. The following former section 3 compresses the ground material outwards into the shape of the former. A hammering action is applied to create the mould. During the hammering action, the ground breaking bit 9 maintains continuous contact with the ground. In this case the mechanical digger 6 is used to apply the hammering action to the bit 9.

The tool is withdrawn from the mass of ground when the former 3 has reached the required depth as illustrated in Fig. 4.

The mould and support space 10 created in the mass of ground has a tapered lower section 11 and an upper section 12 which is substantially square. The walls defining the mould 10 are very stable because they are formed by the compression of ground material. Additionally, no spoil material is generated by the creation of the mould and support space. -6IE990399 A strut 2 is placed into the mould 10. The strut 2 is temporarily held in a desired position in the mould. The strut 2 may be held in position by using supporting stays, or a similar supporting structure which temporarily maintains the strut in place. A settable material, such as a cementitious material, is poured into the mould 10 and the settable material surrounds the strut 2 in the mould 10. The supporting structure is removed from the strut 2 and the strut 2 is moved. The settable material fills the void thus formed by the movement of the strut 2 and anchors the strut 2 in place. The settable material acts as a support for the strut.

A lip of ground material is edged up at the mouth of the created mould 10 as the tool progresses into the mass of ground. This lip of material may be forced back down on to the flat ground surface to cover part of the settable material foundation. This reduces the environmental impact of the strut foundation.

Struts erected in this way may be utilised in a variety of different applications. One particularly preferred example is for struts 2 used for fencing 20 as illustrated in Fig. 6. The struts may be used for poles suspending wiring, struts used for road signs, traffic lights and the like.

It will be appreciated that the former may be of any suitable cross section including triangular, hexagonal, octagonal, curvilinear such as circular or oval.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, the invention is not limited to these embodiments and may be varied in both construction and detail.

Claims

1. A tool for creating a mould and support space for erection of a strut, the tool comprising: a former for forming the mould; the former having a ground engaging tapered end; and means for mounting the tool to a tool operating device.

2. A tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tool includes a ground breaking bit at a leading end thereof.

3. A tool as claimed in claim 2 wherein the bit comprises a chisel bit.

4. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim where the former is rectilinear in transverse cross section.

5. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim where the former is square in transverse cross section.

6. A tool as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the means for mounting the tool comprises a mounting stub for engaging an attachment of a mechanical digger.

7. A method for creating a mould and support space for erection of a strut, the method comprising the steps of: (i) creating a mould using a tool as claimed in any preceding claim, -8IE990399 (ii) placing a strut into the mould created in step (i) to anchor the strut, and, (iii) pouring a settable material into the mould to surround the strut in the mould.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 including the steps of: temporarily holding the strut in position in the mould while the settable material is being poured, removing the supporting structure from the strut, and, moving the strut in the settable material to anchor the strut.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7 or 8 wherein a hammering action is applied to the tool to create the mould.

10. A method as claimed in any of claims 7 to 9 wherein the tool maintains contact with the ground during the hammering action.

11. A method as claimed in any of claims 7 to 9 wherein a mechanical digger is used to apply the hammering action to the tool.

12. A tool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to accompanying drawings.