Abstract:
An apparatus for removal of fasteners. The apparatus comprises a motor, a rotary drive shaft, a striker mechanism operable to convert rotary motion into reciprocating linear motion and a reciprocating shear blade shaped and sized to shear off fasteners or split materials.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates generally to the field of removal of fasteners and surface materials, and particularly to an apparatus for efficiently removing fasteners and surface materials using a reciprocating mechanism. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In the course of renovation and repair work, it is often necessary to remove old materials and fasteners before new materials can be applied. Removal of old materials and fasteners is known to be difficult and labor-intensive work. Thus, there is a need for effective tools for reducing the volume of human effort by expediting the process. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present disclosure provides a versatile apparatus for removing fasteners in a convenient, easy and economical manner. The apparatus of the present disclosure provides a worker or work crew with the ability to remove fasteners and materials efficiently and without unnecessary effort. 
         [0004]    More specifically, the present disclosure provides various embodiments of an apparatus for removing fasteners comprising a motor having a motor frame and an output shaft. According to one design disclosed herein, the apparatus includes a drive shaft operably connected to the output shaft of the motor. A striker retention frame is fixed to and disposed about the drive shaft, and an array of rolling strikers is disposed within the striker retention frame. An axially-translatable strike plate is disposed adjacent to the rolling strikers. An array of fixed strikers is disposed on the strike plate. A shear blade is operably connected to the strike plate, to receive reciprocating motion therefrom. With this design, rotary motion is converted into reciprocating motion whenever the two sets of strikers are brought into engagement with one another. 
         [0005]    According to an alternate design, an apparatus for removing fasteners includes a motor, a flywheel driven by the motor, a rotating striker retention frame fixed to the flywheel and a second frame, disposed adjacent to the flywheel and axially-translatable with respect thereto. The apparatus further includes a first array of rotating strikers disposed in the rotating striker retention frame, an array of non-rotating strikers, disposed on the frame and a shear blade, operably connected to the frame. As described above, rotary motion is converted into reciprocating motion whenever the two sets of strikers are brought into engagement with one another. 
         [0006]    Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    For a better understanding of the disclosure, and to show by way of example how the same may be carried into effect, reference is now made to the detailed description along with the accompanying figures in which corresponding numerals in the different figures refer to corresponding parts and in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a fastener removal apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the fastener removal apparatus depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a side section view of the fastener removal apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a top section view of a second embodiment of the fastener removal apparatus of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a front section view of the fastener removal apparatus of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a fixed striker array; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is an end view of the fixed striker array of  FIG. 6 ; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is an oblique view of the fixed striker array of  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    While the making and using of various embodiments of the present disclosure are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present disclosure provides many applicable inventive concepts, which can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The disclosure is primarily described and illustrated hereinafter in conjunction with various embodiments of the presently-described fastener removal apparatus. The specific embodiments discussed herein are, however, merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the disclosure and do not limit the scope of the disclosure. 
         [0017]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the present disclosure is described in greater detail in reference to one general embodiment of the fastener removal apparatus according to the present disclosure.  FIG. 1  depicts a side view of a fastener removal apparatus in accordance with a first embodiment of the disclosure.  FIG. 2  is a top view of the fastener removal apparatus depicted in  FIG. 1 . As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , apparatus  100  comprises motor  102  having switch  104  and connected to handle  108  by bracket  106 . Handle  108  has a grip  110  to facilitate secure engagement. Canister  112  is secured to handle  108  on one end and strike shaft  116  on the other via coupling  114 . At the end of strike shaft  116  is a shear blade  118 . Strike shaft  116  is supported by a set of braces  120 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a side section view of the fastener removal apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . As seen in  FIG. 3 , drive shaft  130  rides on bearings  132 ,  134 . Drive shaft  130  is operably connected to moter  102  in such manner as to be rotatably driven and powered thereby. Flywheel  136  rides on drive shaft  130 , secured thereto via flywheel hub  138 . An array of rolling strikers  140  is connected to and driven by a striker retention frame  142 , which may be incorporated into flywheel  136  or may be a separate structure, depending on the embodiment. An impeller  144  is disposed on one side of the flywheel  144 , for cooling and distribution of lubrication. 
         [0019]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , striker retention frame  142  is designed to allow the rolling strikers  140  to rotate about one or more axes while retaining them in a particular arrangement to one another. Striker retention frame  142  is shaped and sized to retain a circular array of spherical strikers, but those of skill in the art will recognize that alternate embodiments may employ alternate striker designs and alternate striker retainers. Such striker designs may include cylindrical or conical strikers, as examples. 
         [0020]    Rolling strikers  140  are disposed adjacent to an array of fixed strikers  146 , which are secured to striker plate  148 . Striker plate  148  is connected, in turn, to canister  112 . Depending on the embodiment, flywheel  136 , striker plate  148 , or both, may be retained in such manner as to allow for axial movement between themselves and the surrounding components of apparatus  100 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , flywheel  136  may be axially secured to driveshaft  130 , while striker plate  148  is free to translate axially along drive shaft  130 , so as to allow the strikers  140 ,  146  to be engaged or disengaged with one another as necessary. In certain embodiments, it may be preferable that there be sufficient axial movement between flywheel  136  and striker plate  148  to allow for full disengagement between rolling strikers  140  and fixed strikers  146  at one end of travel and full engagement of strikers  140 ,  146  at the other. 
         [0021]    As drive shaft  130  rotates the flywheel  136 , rolling strikers  140  move past fixed strikers  146 . So long as the plane defined by the proximate extremities of the rolling strikers  140  does not cross the plane defined by the proximate extremities of the fixed strikers  146 , there will be no physical contact between rolling strikers  140  and fixed strikers  146 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a top section view of a second embodiment of the fastener removal apparatus of the present invention.  FIG. 5  is a front section view of the fastener removal apparatus of  FIG. 4 . Apparatus  200  comprises a motor  202  secured to an upper frame  204  having a pair of upper handholds  206 . A pair of pilot pins  208  extend from the upper frame  204  to lower frame  210 . A pair of retention springs  214  provide for movement between upper frame  206  and lower frame  210 . A pair of lower handholds  212  are secured to lower frame  210 . A lubrication retaining fence  216 , having an air filter  218  secured thereto, is secured to lower frame  210 . 
         [0023]    A drive pulley  220 , secured to the output shaft of motor  202 , powers a driven pulley  222 , disposed about internal pilot pin  226 , via a drive belt  224 . Driven pulley  222  is, in turn, secured to primary flywheel  228 , which is also disposed about internal pilot pin  226 . A secondary flywheel  230 , disposed about internal pilot pin  232 , engages with, and is driven by, primary flywheel  228 . Flywheels  228 ,  230  have impellers  234  secured to their top sides in order to provide cooling and lubrication. 
         [0024]    A set of rolling strikers  236  is disposed in each of flywheels  228  and  230 . They are positioned to be engageable with a matching set of rolling strikers  238  disposed in lower frame  210 . The operation of these strikers is similar to the operation of the strikers shown in  FIG. 3  and described in connection therewith. The engagement of rolling strikers  236  with rolling strikers  238  imparts a reciprocating motion to lower frame  210  when the two sets of strikers are in contact. 
         [0025]    In a similar manner to that described above in connection with  FIGS. 1-3 , the motion imparted to lower frame  210  by the engagement of strikers  236 ,  238  is imparted to yoke  240 , and from there to strike shaft  242  and finally to splitting wedge  244 . 
         [0026]      FIGS. 6-8  depict various views of one embodiment of a fixed striker array suitable for use with any of the above-described embodiments.  FIG. 6  is a side view of a fixed striker array.  FIG. 7  is an end view of the fixed striker array of  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 8  is an oblique view of the fixed striker array of  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
         [0027]    Similar embellishments, and various combinations thereof, are all comprehended by the present disclosure. In fact, all embodiments described herein are presented for purposes of illustration and explanation only. The specific compositions, configurations, orientations and operations of various features, portions and members may be provided in a number of ways in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         [0028]    Thus, the embodiments and examples set forth herein are presented to best explain the present disclosure and its practical application and to thereby enable those skilled in the art to make and utilize the disclosure. As previously explained, those skilled in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purpose of illustration and example only. The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.