US2320464A - Earth anchor - Google Patents

Description

C. R. PiEPER EARTH ANCHOR Filed July 1'7, 1959 June 1, 1943. 2,320,464

INVENTOR CHESTER R. PIEPER ATTORNEY Patented June 1, 1943 EARTH ANCHOR Chester R. Pieper, La Crosse, Wis., assignor to Iron Products Corporation, La Crosse, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application July 17, 1939, Serial No. 284,872

2 Claims. (Cl. 18992) This invention relates generally to earth anchors adapted for use in anchoring to earth, guys and like supporting elements, and more specifically to an earth anchor of the type which includes a plurality of pivoted blades that are adaptedto be expanded into undisturbed earth adjacent to a hole in which the unexpanded anchor i introduced, for anchoring the anchor structure in place in the earth, the predominant object of the invention being to provide an earth anchor of the type mentioned which is made up largely of parts stamped from sheet steel or other sheet metal.

Prior hereto anchors of the type to which this invention relates were made up largely of parts in the form of castings, and while such anchors performed their intended functions with a fair degree of success, there are a number of advantages attained when anchor parts in the form of metal stampings are employed in the produc tion of the anchors. Briefly stated the improved anchor disclosed herein comprises a pair of blades which are pivoted together for relative pivotal action, a blade-expanding member that includes nut retaining means associated therewith, and an anchor rod which is connected to the blade-expanding member. The blades and the blade-expanding member, together with the nut retaining means thereof, are formed of metal stampings, the only parts of the completed anchor structure which are not in the form of stampings being the anchor rod, and of course its nut, and a certain insert which is disposed within the blade-expanding member for bracing purposes.

Thus an improved earth anchor is provided that is made up largely of parts stamped from sheet metal which because of its character i not susceptible to the imperfection frequently found in castings. Also because of the use of parts formed from sheet metal stampings a saving in shipping weight is realized without any sacrifice of strength of the parts or holding power of the anchor.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the lower portion of the improved earth anchor showing the blades in their extended positions, the anchor rod and portions of the associated blades being shownin section.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the anchor structure illustrated in Fig. 1, the anchor rod being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section taken on line 33of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 44 of Fig. 1. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are fragmentary, inverted plan views of the improved anchor showing the manner in which the nut retaining means will engage nuts of different sizes, the nut retaining means of Fig. 6 being in section.

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 88 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation showing the appearance of one of the improved anchors in a hole prepared therefor and before the blade of the anchor have been expanded.

In the drawing, wherein is shown for the purpose of illustration, merely, one embodiment of the invention, A designates the improved anchor generally. The anchor A includes a pair of blades l and 2 which are formed from sheet steel or other suitable sheet metal, said blades when viewed in side elevation having the shapes illustrated in Fig. 2. In other words, each blade is provided with a substantially compound curvature that includes a definite concave outer portion B and a slightly convex inner portion C. This curvature of the blades I and 2 is important in connection with the holding power of the anchor when it is disposed in the ground with its blades expanded, as the convex blade portions C exert an outward force against the earth in resisting displacement of the anchor in addition to the upward force exerted against the earth by the convex blade portions 13 in resistance to such displacement of the anchor. The blades l and 2 are provided each with longitudinally extended strengthening ribs as shown to the best advantage in Figs. 1 and 4, each blade being provided with a central, relatively heavy rib 3 extended upwardly from the blade when said blade is horizontal, a pair of lighter ribs 4 which emerge from the side walls of the rib 3 and project downwardly beyond the opposite face of the blade, upstanding ribs 5 of less height than the central rib 3 which emerge from side walls of the ribs 4, and downwardly projected ribs 5 which are narrower than the ribs 5 and emerge therefrom. Preferably the ribs 6 are slightly curved through their inner portions as shown in Fig. 1. Also each of the blades l and 2 is provided with shoulder 4' which are formed by cutting the material of the ribs 4 transversely of said ribs and by shaping the material of the ribs at one side of the cut.

At its inner end each blade i provided with a pair of spaced extensions 1 and 8, theextension l of each blade being located immediately adjacent to a side edge of the blade, and the extension 8 of each blade being spaced inwardly from the opposite side edge of the blade as shown to the best advantage in Fig. l. The extensions 1 and 8 of each blade include each a curved wall 9 which is a continuation of the blade and this curved wall serves as a tamping surface that receives tamping blows which serve to expand the blades as will be presently explained herein. Also each extension I and 8 includes a side wall I located at one side of the extension in which an aperture is formed approximately centrally thereof. The side walls In of the extensions 1 and 8 are formed from portions of metal which are displaced from the body of the blade during the blade forming operations, and because said side walls are inte. gral with the curved walls 9 of the extensions Very rigid and durable extension structures are provided.

When the pair of blades l and 2 are assembled in their operative positions the side walls II] of the extensions 1 of the respective blades are arranged in contacting relation with the ide walls ID of the extensions 8 of said blades, as shown to the best advantage in Fig. 1, so that the apertures formed through said side walls of the related extensions are in registration, and rivets II are arranged in said apertures to pivotally attach the blades together. Also, with regard to the assembled blades it is to be noted that each blade is provided with a cutout portion I2 which cutout portions combine to provide an opening I3 throughwhich the anchor rod I4 extends when the anchor i in its assembled, operative condition.

The improved anchor includes also a bladeexpanding member I5 which comprises a pair of stamped, sheet metal disks I6 and ll of slightly convex formation, the disk I! being provided with a marginal flange II' within which the marginal edge of the disk I6 is fitted as shown in Fig. 3. When the disks I6 and I1 have been assembled as described the marginal flange ll of the disk I1 is spun or swedged inwardly to cause said marginal flange to partially embrace and engage the marginal edge of the disk I6 and thereby securely fasten said disks I6 and I1 together to provide a hollow, unitary structure. The disk I6 has a recess I8 pressed therein which is shaped as shown in Fig. 6, said recess being generally of elongated, rectangular shape with relatively deep, triangular-shaped recess portions I9 formed in the opposed longer side walls of the recess I 8 and with relatively shallow, triangularshaped recess portions 20 formed in the shorter end walls of said recess I8. The disk I6 has secured thereto a nut retainer 2| which is in the form of a substantially U-shaped length of stamped material which is welded, or otherwise secured, to the disk I6 at its upper ends as designated by the reference character M in Figs. 2 and 3. As shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 the nut retainer 2| is of slightly less width than the recess I8 formed in the disk I6 and the inner faces of the opposed side bars of said nut retainer are located at the outer ends of the shallower triangular-shaped recess portions 20 of said recess.

In order to brace the blade-expanding member I5 of the improved anchor an insert 22 is arranged within the hollow interior thereof. If desired the insert 22 may be in the form of a casting which includes a slightly convex body portion 23 provided with an outer marginal flange 24 and an inner, annular flange 25. Also, if desired the insert 22 may be provided with radial ribs to give to the insert the required strength and rigidity. The insert 22 is preferably tack welded to the disk I! of the blade-expanding member, as shown at 22 in Fig. 3, to retain it in its proper position where the outer face of the body portion thereof contacts with the inner face of said disk I1, and where the lower faces of the outer marginal flange 24 and the inner annular flange 25 contact, respectively, with the inner face of the disk I6 of the blade-expanding member and inner face of the base wall of the recess I8 formed in said disk I6. The opening formed through the inner annular flange 25 of the insert 22 is slightly tapered, as shown in Fig. 3, the disks I6 and [1 of the blade-expanding member I5 are provided, respectively, with openings 26 which are alined with the opening through said inner, annular flange of said insert.

When the anchor is in a completely assembled condition the anchor rod I4 extends through the opening I3 provided by the cutaway portions I2 of the blades and through the alined openings in the disks I6 and I! of the blade-expanding member I5 and the insert 22. A nut 21, which is embraced by the nut-retainer 2| is applied to the lower, screwthreaded end portion of the anchor rod, and the extreme lower end of the anchor rod contacts with the horizontal bar of said nut retainer.

In putting one of the improved anchors in use a hole is formed in the ground in line with the proposed line of extension of a guy to be anchored by the anchor, said hole being of such diameter that it will just receive the folded anchor. The anchor is then introducedinto the hole with its blades in their folded condition as shown in Fig. 9, said blades being held in their folded or collapsed, condition by light lengths of wire 28, or other fastening material, which are passed through apertures 29 and 30 formed in the blades and in the blade-expanding member, respectively, and which have their ends twisted, tied or otherwise fastened together. A tamping bar is then passed downwardly into the hole and the curved walls 9 of the extensions I and 8 are struck tamping blows with the aid of the tamping bar. The tamping blows so directed against the curved walls 9 of the extensions I and 8 will break the lengths of wire, or other material which holds the blades in their folded condition, and the curved faces of the ribs 4 riding on edge por tions of the blade-expanding member will cause the blades to be moved outwardly to" penetrate into the undisturbed earth at opposite sides of the hole. When the blades have been expanded a sufficient distance the shoulders 4' thereof will pass over the marginal edge of the blade-expanding member and engage said marginal edge of said blade-expanding member, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, to lock the blades and the bladeexpanding member together. When the blades and the blade-expanding member are so locked together by engagement of the shoulders 4' of the blades with the marginal edge of the bladee expanding member, the lower edges of the side walls I0 of the extensions I and 8 are in contact with the top face of the blade-expanding member as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and any upward strain on the anchor bar I4 which tends to move the blade-expanding member and the pivoted joint between the blades upwardly relative to the outer end portions of the blades will produce increased locking action between the shoulders'4' of the blades and the marginal edge of the blade expanding member. When the anchor has been arranged in place in the ground as described the prepared hole is filled and the anchor is ready for use.

It is obvious that an anchor made in accordance with this invention is very durable and is capable of emcient operation, and because the blades, the blade-expanding member (other than the insert 22 thereof), and the nut retainer of the improved anchor are made from metal stampings, the advantages which flow from the use of parts so made are attained.

An advantage incident to the use of the nut retainer forming a part of the improved anchor is that nuts of different sizes may be employed with the anchor rod of the anchor. When a nut of one standard size is employed with the anchor rod it is disposed as shown in Fig. 5 where the nut 21 is not disposed in the recess l 8 of the disk l6 of the blade-expanding member but is arranged in contact with portions of the lower face of said disk l6 adjacent to the recess l8 therein. This is the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 where the disposition of the nut outside of the recess l 8 is clearly illustrated. Also when a nut of a different standard size is employed it may be arranged as shown in Fig. 6 where the nut 21a, is disposed in the recess l8 and. corner portions of said nut are seated in the triangular-shaped recess portions [9 and 20 of said recess I8. Additionally when a nut of still another standard size is employed it may be arranged as shown in Fig. 7 where the nut 21b is arranged in the recess [8 with opposed flat faces of the nut in contact with portions of the opposed longer side walls of the recess I8. In accordance with all of the nut arrangements described the nut retainer 2| holds the nut in position to maintain the anchor rod and the blade-expanding member in securely connected relation when the lower end face of the anchor rod has been screwed into contact with the lower bar of said nut retainer.

I claim:

1. An earth anchor comprising a pair of blades, means for pivotally connecting said blades together, a blade-expanding member comprising a pair of disks formed of sheet material connected together at their marginal edges and shaped to provide the blade-expanding member with a hollow interior, a bracing insert disposed within the hollow-interior of said blade-expanding member, said bracing insert being of disk formation and being provided with an annular marginal flange, and an anchor rod connected to said blade-expanding member.

2. An earth anchor comprising a pair of blades, means for pivotally connecting said blades together, a blade expanding member comprising a pair of disks formed of sheet material connected together at their marginal edges and shaped to provide the blade-expanding member with a hollow interior, a bracing insert disposed within the hollow interior of said blade-expanding member and secured to one of said disks, said bracing insert being of disk formation and being provided with concentric annular flanges, and an anchor rod connected to said blade-expanding member.

CHESTER R. PIEPER.

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