Slide rail panel pushing assembly

A panel pushing assembly (10) for a slide rail system having a first and second wall (12, 14) includes an elongated member (16) having a bottom end (18) and a top end (20), and a guide (40) disposed about the elongated member (16). The guide (40) guides slidable movement along the elongated member (16) and includes a collar (42) engaging the walls (12, 14) of the elongated member (16) and a catch (44) extending laterally from the collar (42) to engage the second wall (14), which is the stationary wall. The collar (42) includes a plurality of side-plates (46) and the catch (44) includes a hook portion (70) extending downwardly along the outside of the second wall (14) for preventing lateral movement of said elongated member (16) relative to the second wall (14). A retention finger (34) is disposed on the bottom end (18) of the elongated member (16) for preventing lateral movement of the bottom of the elongated member (16) and a head-plate (28) is disposed on the top end (20) of the elongated member (16) to receive a pushing force (F).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The subject invention relates to a panel pushing assembly for pushing the first wall into the ground of a slide rail system having multiple walls.

2. Description of the Prior Art

One known problem encountered while pushing a slide rail panel into the ground is damage to the wall due to exerting a force directly on the top of the wall. One solution is reinforcement of the top of the wall; however these modifications increase the cost of each slide rail panel. An example of such an assembly is U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,522 to Pertz.

The Pertz patent discloses a single-walled trenching assembly including a head-plate, releasably mounted along the length of the top of a slide rail panel. The top of the wall is a channel beam having side flanges. The head-plate is an inverted U-shaped channel member having a top surface no greater than that of the top of the wall wherein it sits. The head-plate releasably engages the top channel via a tight fit with rods that are welded to the inside walls of the flanges on the top channel of the wall.

There is a further problem specific to multi-wall slide rail systems. The force exerted on the walls is usually applied using the bucket of an excavator, excavating crane, or trencher. The inside wall or walls, namely a center wall and inside wall in a triple track slide rail system, are difficult to reach without having to move the excavator. Furthermore, the only way to exert a force to all of the walls is to use the teeth of the bucket to push the inside or center wall which causes more damage to the wall.

Although the prior art panel pushing assemblies serve the purpose of protecting the top of the wall while pushing the wall into the ground, there remains a need for a tool to push a slide rail panel that can be moved from one slide rail panel to another eliminating the need to reinforce each individual slide rail panel. Specifically there remains an opportunity for a panel pushing assembly which provides a heightened yet stable position for conveniently applying a downward force to the first wall of a multi-walled slide rail system while simultaneously protecting the top of the first wall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES

The invention provides a panel pushing assembly comprising an elongated member having a longitudinal axis extending between a bottom end for engaging the top of the first wall and a top end for receiving the pushing force. The assembly is characterized by a guide member for engaging the top of the second wall and slidable along the elongated member for guiding longitudinal movement of the elongated member in response to the pushing force being applied to push the top end of the elongated member into the ground.

Accordingly, a panel pushing assembly is provided for use with a slide rail system having a first and second wall wherein a guide provides stability by engaging the second wall which is stationary, while the first wall is being pushed into the ground. The assembly protects the top of the first wall from damage that may occur when applying the downward force directly on the first wall and allows the force to be applied at a more convenient vertically spaced location above the first wall. Additionally, the assembly can be removed and placed on many different slide rail panels, including both double track and single track slide rail systems, eliminating the need to reinforce each wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, a panel pushing assembly10is generally shown for pushing the first wall12into the ground of a slide rail system having a second wall14.

The assembly10includes an elongated member16generally indicated having a longitudinal axis extending between a bottom end18for engaging the top of the first wall12and a top end20for receiving a pushing force F. The elongated member16includes a plurality of tubes22abutting one another to define a cross section having a rectangular periphery. The dashed lines inFIGS. 1 and 2indicate the inside wall of the tubes22. The plurality of tubes22includes two outside tubes24and one middle tube26. Each tube22is hollow with a cross section having a rectangular periphery with rounded corners and the tubes22abut one another along the long side thereof and are welded together to define the elongated member16.

A head-plate28is disposed on and extends radially both transversely and laterally from the top end20of the elongated member16for receiving a force F. The head-plate28is a rectangular metal plate having rounded corners and is welded onto the elongated member16.

A plurality of first triangular shaped gussets30are disposed under the head-plate28and interconnect the elongated member16and the head-plate28. The first gussets30are positioned at each corner of the elongated member16and in the center of each long side of the elongated member16. In other words, a first gusset30is disposed at each of the two outside corners of the two outside tubes24and a first gusset30is disposed at each of the two short sides of the middle tube26of the elongated member16. The perpendicular edges of each first gusset30are welded to the head-plate28and the elongated member16.

An attachment32is disposed adjacent to the top end20of the elongated member16for lifting the assembly10. The attachment32is defined by one of the first gussets30having a through-hole. Alternatively, the attachment32may be a U-shaped brace and may be positioned on the head plate, a first gusset30or the elongated member16.

A retention finger34is disposed on and extends downwardly from the bottom end18of the elongated member16for disposition between the walls12,14. The retention finger34engages the interior of the first wall12and prevents radial movement of the bottom end18off of the top of the first wall12. The retention finger34also extends radially of the longitudinal axis in a lateral direction outwardly of the elongated member16for extending along and engaging the second wall14.

A flange36is disposed under the bottom end18of the elongated member16. The flange36supports the retention finger34along side of the elongated member16and extends radially of the longitudinal axis in a lateral direction outwardly of the elongated member16. A plurality of second triangular shaped gussets38are disposed on the flange36and interconnect the flange36and the elongated member16. Two second gussets38are disposed on each of the distal ends of the flange36, wherein the perpendicular edges of the second gussets38are welded to the elongated member16and to the top of the flange36.

The assembly10is characterized by a guide member40generally indicated for engaging the top of the second wall14and for guiding longitudinal movement of the elongated member16in response to the pushing force F being applied to push the top end20of the elongated member16to push the first wall12into the ground. The guide40includes a collar42disposed about and slidable along the elongated member16and a catch44extending radially of the longitudinal axis in a transverse direction from the collar42for engaging the top of the second wall14. The collar42includes a plurality of metal side-plates46that are welded to one another to form a rectangular-shaped collar42for engaging the rectangular elongated member16.

An adjustable connection48interconnects the catch44and the collar42for adjusting the catch44radially relative to the collar42to accommodate second walls14having different widths. One skilled in the art may appreciate many variations for the connection including a tongue and groove connection or a pin, as shown inFIG. 5.

The adjustable connection48includes a pair of catch flanges50spaced from one another and extending parallel to one another from the catch44. Each of the catch flanges50define a top catch hole52and a bottom catch hole54. The top catch holes52are axially aligned with one another and the bottom catch holes54are axially aligned with one another. The adjustable connection48also includes a pair of collar flanges56spaced from one another in the transverse direction and extending parallel to one another from the collar42for overlapping the catch flanges50. The collar flanges extend radially from the side-plates46of the collar42. Each of the collar flanges56define a first top collar hole58and a first bottom collar hole60. The first top collar holes58are axially aligned with one another and the first bottom collar holes60are axially aligned with one another. As illustrated inFIG. 5, the catch44may be positioned such that the top catch holes52are laterally aligned with the first top collar holes58and the bottom catch holes54are similarly aligned with the first bottom collar holes60.

The adjustable connection48includes a top pin62and a bottom pin64. The top pin62is disposed through the first top collar holes58and the top catch holes52for interconnecting the catch44and the collar42. The bottom pin64is disposed through the first bottom collar holes60and the bottom catch holes54for restricting rotational movement of the catch44relative to the collar42. InFIG. 5, the pins62,64are illustrated each being held in place by a cotter pin, however, one skilled in the art may appreciate that a variety of fasteners can be used including a nut and bolt or a snap pin.

Each of the collar flanges56define a second top collar hole66and a second bottom collar hole68. The second top collar holes66are axially aligned with one another and radially spaced in a transverse direction from the first top collar holes58. The second bottom collar holes68are axially aligned with one another and radially spaced in a transverse direction from the first top collar holes58. The catch44may be adjusted by removing the pins62,64from the first pairs of holes60,58, aligning the catch holes52,54with the second collar holes66,68, and placing the pins62,64through the respective second top and bottom holes68,66. The second collar holes66,68are transversely spaced from the first collar holes60,58at a predetermined distance for adjusting the catch44radially in a transverse direction to accommodate second walls14having two different widths. Likewise, multiple groups of holes can be similarly spaced in order to accommodate more than two different wall widths.

The catch44includes a hook portion70extending downwardly for preventing radial movement of the elongated member16relative to the second wall14. The hook70also extends radially of the longitudinal axis in a lateral direction outwardly of the elongated member16for extending along and engaging the second wall14. The catch44and the hook portion70may be defined by an angle iron welded to the side-plates46of the collar42.

In operation, the assembly10is lifted by attaching a line or cable to the attachment32and thereafter the guide member40is lowered onto the second wall14of a slide rail system having a first and second wall12,14. The assembly10may be used on both a double track slide rail system having two walls12,14, and a triple track slide rail system having three walls12,14. With the double track system, the assembly10is lowered onto the wall referred as the inside wall. With the triple track system, the assembly10is lowered onto one of either a center wall or an inside wall. The elongated member16slides through the guide40to rest upon the first wall12of the multi-walled slide rail system. A pushing force F is applied to the head-plate28to push the bottom end18of the elongated member16engaging the first wall12to push the first wall12into the ground while the elongated member16slides through the guide40for providing stability. In use with a three-walled slide rail system, the assembly10may be placed on either of the two inside walls12,14, namely an inside wall or a center wall, in order to push either wall into the ground. To adjust the catch44and collar42for different sized second wall14widths, the pins62,64may be removed, the catch44may be transversely adjusted to align the catch holes52,54with the appropriate collar42holes, and the pins62,64may be replaced through the catch holes52,54and the corresponding collar holes.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described within the scope of the appended claims, wherein that which is prior art is antecedent to the novelty set forth in the “characterized by” clause. The novelty is meant to be particularly and distinctly recited in the “characterized by” clause whereas the antecedent recitations merely set forth the old and well-known combination in which the invention resides. These antecedent recitations should be interpreted to cover any combination in which the incentive novelty exercises its utility. In addition, the reference numerals in the claims are merely for convenience and are not to be read in any way as limiting.