Patent ID: 6976670
Filing Date: 2005-12-20
Classification: E04H

Abstract:
1. A hydraulic puller apparatus for extracting objects from the ground, including objects that may be anchored in a concrete slug, comprising: a pair of hydraulic jack members, each having a ground engaging base and an extensible and retractable ram member actuated by a pump rod and cylinder jacking mechanism at said base including actuating means for actuating said pump rod; a pair of elongate lift arm members each having an upper end pivotally connected to the top of a respective said ram member and an outwardly extending horizontal tongue member at a lower end thereof; a puller head assembly removably supported at opposed ends on said horizontal tongue member of a respective said lift arm, said puller head having a pair of generally rectangular jaw support platforms disposed in parallel laterally spaced relation defining a central generally U-shaped opening therebetween which is open on one side and sized to straddle the width of the object to be extracted; a pair of jaw members each slidably mounted on a respective said jaw support platform in opposed facing relation for movement between a retracted position away from said U-shaped opening and an extended gripping position engaged on the object to be extracted, and each having a generally rectangular head portion with an outer facing gripping surface configured to grip opposite sides of the object to be extracted; a pair of drive screw members, each threadedly engaged on a respective said jaw support platform in opposed facing relation and having an inner facing end engaged with a respective said jaw member for moving said jaw member between said retracted and extended positions upon rotation thereof, and each having an outer facing end configured to receive rotating means for rotating same; wherein said puller head is positioned with said U-shaped opening straddling a lower end of the object to be extracted, said drive screw members are rotated to move said jaws to their extended gripping position firmly engaged on the object to be extracted, said jack members are placed on opposite sides of the object to be extracted, said lift arm tongue members are engaged in opposed ends of said jaw support platforms, and said pump rod and cylinder jacking mechanisms of said jack members are actuated to extend said ram members to a height sufficient to extract the object from the ground.