Abstract:
A rack is disclosed, adapted to facilitate efficient transport, use and storage of augers, including foundation augers. The rack comprises a frame and a plurality of upwardly rising tower assemblies which grip or lock the helical flighting on earth augers. In various embodiments, components of the rack are adjustable to accommodate differing diameters of the auger, differing angles of incline of flighting, and differing heights of augers and their flighting.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims priority to, and incorporates, U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/795,782 entitled “Auger Rack with Flighting Securement Facilitating Vertical Use, Storage and Transport of Auger or Drill Bits” filed on Jan. 25, 2013 for Craig Richard Hokanson. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to construction implements, and more particularly relates to an implement for transportation, use and storage of heavy augers. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Foundation augers, utility auger and general purpose augers are well-known in the art, and often used in constructing deep foundations for industrial or commercial buildings. Foundation augers, like all earth augers, comprise helical flighting used in drilling to extract earth and aggregate from a ground surface in a construction area. In the case of foundation auger, the dimension of the auger are much greater than with other augers used to drill wells or for other application. Foundation augers can weigh thousands, or even tens of thousands, of pounds. Foundation augers can be difficult or impossible to oriten upright once they have fallen out of the upright position. 
         [0006]    Because foundation augers vary in size, shape, weight and the incline angle of their flighting, simple universal rack for storing foundation augers do not exist in the art, much less a universal rack able to store foundation augers of a wide variety of sizes and shapes. 
         [0007]    Foundation augers must be detachably affixed to a large drive motor, which suspends them, which drive motor is usually connected to a mechanized vehicle, drilling stations, and/or other machine known to those of skill in the art, including a skid steer, backhoe, excavator, mini excavator, compact track loader, Bobcat®, truck-mounted Derrick digger, pressure digger, or any of a plethora of various types of tractors and track vehicles. 
         [0008]    Because of their size, foundation auger are particularly difficult to safely transport and store, and there exists no efficient means in the art of storing or securing foundation augers in an upright position so they can be handled, managed and moved vertically. 
         [0009]    There is a need in the art for safer and more efficient apparati and method of securing large foundation augers. It is therefore desirable that an auger rack be provided which facilitates ease of vertical auger transport, storage, use and interchange. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for an auger rack for vertical auger transport, storage, use and interchange. Beneficially, such an apparatus would overcome many of the difficulties with prior art by providing a safer means for securing, transporting, storing, using and interchanging a plurality of augers by a single operator. 
         [0011]    The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the safety problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available aparati. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide a rack for vertically securing a foundation auger, the rack comprising: a frame comprising: two or more track frames between 0.1 meters and 10 meters in length, the track frames comprising elongated structural components formed from a rigid metallic substance, each track frame defining a track through which an adjustable tower assembly travels; wherein each track frame is oriented to converge diagonally across an x axis and across a y axis toward a common center point of the rack; two or more upwardly rising adjustable tower assemblies, each assembly slidably affixed to a track frame, each adjustable tower assembly comprising: an inner tube; an outer tube, wherein the inner tube slides within the outer tube along a z axis telescopically such that a height of the tower assembly is adjustable; a flighting rest affixed to one of the inner tube and outer tube, the flighting rest for supporting a lower surface of helical flighting on an auger; a locking mechanism for locking the helical flighting of the auger in place; wherein each adjustable tower assembly slides along a track frame. 
         [0012]    In some embodiments, the common center point of the rack is defined by a recess separating the track frames, the recess for securing a tip of an auger from lateral movement. In other embodiments, the rack further comprise one or more fork pockets. The rack may further comprise one or more feet for engaging a ground surface. 
         [0013]    The rack may further comprise a sub frame affixed beneath the track frames on the z axis. The rack may further comprise a plurality of tie down points. Each tower assembly may comprise a baseplate slidably affixed to a track frame such that the tower assemblies may be adjusted inward or outward to accommodate augers of different diameters. 
         [0014]    Each tower assembly may further comprise a cantilevered locking lever hingedly affixed to the tower assembly such that the locking lever secures a top surface of helical flighting of an auger. The flighting rest may be hingedly affixed to the tower assembly such that the flighting rest may be angled to correlate to the incline of helical flighting of an auger. 
         [0015]    The rack, in some embodiments, further comprises a detachable lifting adapter, the detachable lifting adapter for facilitating craning of the rack and auger, the lifting adapter comprising: an inner sleeve for insertable engagement of an auger shaft, the inner sleeve defining an aperture for receiving a pin traversing the inner sleeve and a corresponding aperture in the auger shaft, the pin interlocking the lifting adapter and auger shaft; and a lifting eye affixed to the inner sleeve for hoisting the auger and rack overhead. 
         [0016]    The rack may further comprise one or more crossmembers for increased stability of the rack. The track frame may be oriented in one of x-shaped fashion and y-shaped fashion. 
         [0017]    These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1A  is a side elevational perspective view of an adjustable pressure digger rack in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 1B  is a side elevational perspective view of an adjustable pressure digger rack, showing an exploded view of a tower, in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is an upper perspective view of an adjustable pressure digger rack in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of an adjustable pressure digger rack in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational perspective view of an adjustable pressure digger rack in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational perspective view of an adjustable pressure digger rack in accordance with the present invention; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating the steps of a method of storing a foundation auger on a rack in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. 
         [0027]    Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to convey a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention. 
         [0028]      FIG. 1A  is a side elevational perspective view of an adjustable pressure digger rack  100  in accordance with the present invention. The rack  100  comprises a track frame  102 , a track frame  102   b,  a channel  104   a,  a sub frame  106 , a fork pocket  108 , feet  110   a - b,  a tower assembly  112 , a tower baseplate  114 , an inner tube  116 , an outer tube  118 , a lever lock  120 , a lever lock handle  122 , and a tie down point  124 . 
         [0029]    The rack  100  as shown is for use, storage and/or transport of foundation augers, utility augers, or general purpose auger comprising helical flighting. The rack  100  secures the auger at its flighting in an upright position, and the rack  100  is adjustable to accommodate augers of various shapes, sizes, and weights. 
         [0030]    The term “auger” as used herein is defined to include earth augers, foundation augers, and drill bits used in industrial or construction applications. Thus, the term “auger rack” defines a rack for suspending an auger in an upright position. 
         [0031]    In various other embodiments, the components of the rack  100  are welded, bolted or fastened together. The rack  100  may also be designed as an X-frame as shown in attached drawing/sketch, which X-frame may be fixed or adjustable to accommodate bits of different diameters or widths. The frame may be square, rectangular, circular, ovoid, octagonal, triangular or otherwise shaped. 
         [0032]    In the shown embodiment, the track frames  102  emanate outwardly across a plane formed by the x and y axes from a common center point on the rack  100 . In the shown embodiment, that common center point is defined by a square bracket defining a hollow recess for receiving the tip of an auger suspended in the rack  100 . This square bracket is affixed to each of the track frames  102 . This bracket may circular or otherwise shaped. The track frames  102  may define a recess at the common center point. A tip lowered into the recess also serves to lower the center of gravity of the rack  100  and auger. 
         [0033]    The tower assemblies  112  extend upwards in orthogonal fashion from the track frames  102  along the z axis, and are further described below. The tower assemblies  112  rising orthogonally from the track frames  102  may be telescopic or otherwise adjustable. The tower assemblies  112  may slide in a channel, track, rail or guide member in the track frame  102 , snap in slots or grooves on a track frame  102 , or may be bolted or pinned through a track frame  102  via any other adjustable means known to those of skill in the art. 
         [0034]    The tower baseplate  114  slidably connects the tower assembly  112  to the track frame  102 , and the baseplate  114  may comprise any component that connects or interconnects the tower assembly  112  to a track, channel, or guide member, including a track connector. 
         [0035]    The tower assembly comprises a number of components described further below in relation to  FIG. 1B , including flighting rests  154  having fixed or an adjustable pitch surfaces of between 0°-65°. In other words, the flighting rests  154  may tilt while affixed to the tower assembly  112 . The flighting rests  154  towers may be spring-biased to rest in one upright position. 
         [0036]    The flighting rests  154  may be lockable in one tilted position, and may or may not tilt as part of the flighting tower. The flighting rests  154  may comprise any mechanism for affixing, clamping, pinning, fastening or attaching the rack to the flighting. 
         [0037]    Clamps on the tower assemblies  112  may be adjustable to clamp down on flighting of differing thicknesses and may also be adjustable to clamp down with adjustable amount of pressure or force. 
         [0038]    The tower baseplates  114  may be substantially square, circular, triangular, polygonal, or the like. The baseplates  114  may comprise tread, or texturing, to prevent slippage of the tower assemblies across the track frames  102 . 
         [0039]    Fork pockets may or may not be incorporated into the rack  100  or sub frame  106  of the rack. Baseplates or feet may or may not be incorporated into the sub frame  106  of the rack. 
         [0040]    The rack  100  could be permanently designed into a truck bed itself or into a trailer, perhaps in connection with other racks  100 , allowing for multiple augers to be transported with or behind the truck. The rack  100  may be designed to be secured by brackets to the truck or trailer. The rack  100  may be designed with a cup, receptacle, or cylinder member having an open top for receiving a bit inserted into the rack, truck or trailer which is then secured by cross bars disposed over flighting or flighting locks. 
         [0041]    Each of the components of the sub frame  106 , the tower assembly  112 , and the track frames  102 , may comprise elongated, hollow steel tube. Each of these components may alternatively comprise rods, beams, I-beams, angle beam, bar stock, H-beams, C-beams (i.e. channel), plates, pipes, or other structural members. The members may define a number of holes, bores, or apertures drilled through the members for securing aftermarket components to the rack  100 . Each member may be manufactured from polymers, wood, metals, alloys, and the like. Each member may be curved, bent, or angled along either their y-axis, z-axis, or an orthogonal x-axis. 
         [0042]    The rack  100  may comprise numerous lifting points and/or tie down points  124  for allowing for crane rigging to pick the rack  100  and a secured auger directly from a ground surface. The shown embodiment includes inverted U-shaped members, but may comprise I-beams, tubes, pipes, and the like. 
         [0043]    The sub frame  106  comprises structural members, such as the crossmember  124 , affixed to one another to form a chassis or frame underlaying the track frames  102 . In the shown embodiment, the sub frame  106  is square. In other embodiments, the sub frame  106  may be otherwise shaped. 
         [0044]    The feet help to keep gravel and dirt out of the fork pockets  108  and sub frame  106 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 1B  is a side elevational perspective view of an adjustable pressure digger rack  150 , showing an exploded view of a tower, in accordance with the present invention. The tower assembly  112  comprises a baseplate  114 , an inner tube  116 , an outer tube  118 , flighting rest  154  connected at a pivot point  152 , a lever lock  156 , a handle  122 , a hitch pin  158 , a lever lock mount  160 , an adjustment bolt  164  which maybe be an acme bolt, and height set bolts  162 . 
         [0046]    The inner tube  116  is affixed to the baseplate  114 , and travels within an outer sleeve  118  disposed above the baseplate  114  on the z axis. 
         [0047]    The outer tube  118  extends telescopically away from, and upwardly, from the baseplate  114 , thus providing means of adjusting the height of the tower assembly  112 . 
         [0048]    The inner tube  116  and outer tube  118  may comprise tubes, pipes, bar, rods, cylinders, and other elongated components as known to those of skill in the art. 
         [0049]    The flighting rest  154  is hingedly connected to the tower assembly  112 . In the shown embodiment, the flighting rest  154  is connected at a pivot point  152  on a bracket affixed to the outer sleeve  118  with an adjustment bolt  164 . The flighting rest  154  thus tilts to conform to the inched angling of helical flighting on an auger secured by the rack  150 . 
         [0050]    The flighting rest  154  may affixed pivotably to the outer tube  118  or inner tube  116  or using means known to those of skill in the art, including an adjustment bolt  164 . The flighting rest may be joined, coupled, welded in place at a desired angle or pitch, or otherwise affixed using means known to those of art to the outer or inner tube. 
         [0051]    Height set bolts  162  are adjustable to clamp the outer tube  118  to the inner tube  116  and fix the height of the tower assembly  112 . 
         [0052]    A lever lock mount  160  is affixed to the flighting rest  154 , which lever lock mount  160  is hingedly affixed to a lever lock  156 . The lever lock  156  is rotated from a vertical to a horizontal position by an operator gripping the handle  122 . The lever lock  156  is locked over the top surface of helical flighting on an auger, then held in place by a hitch pin  158  inserted through apertures or bore holes in the lever lock mount  160 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 2  is an upper perspective view of an adjustable pressure digger rack  200  in accordance with the present invention. The pressure digger rack  200  comprises a track frame  102 , a sub frame  106 , a tower assembly  112 , a recess  202 . 
         [0054]    The sub frame  106  and tower assembly  112  are described above in relation to  FIGS. 1A-1B . 
         [0055]    The recess  202  is defined by the bracket  204  interjoining the track frames  102 . 
         [0056]    The tower assemblies  112  slide along the channel  104  or track defined by the track frames  102 . The tower assemblies are adjustable inward or outward to accommodate augers  202  of varying sizes, shapes, weights and dimensions. 
         [0057]      FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of an adjustable pressure digger rack  300  in accordance with the present invention. The pressure digger rack  300  comprises a sub frame  106 , a fork pocket  108 , track frame  102 , an inner tube  116 , an outer tube  118 , and a handle  122 . 
         [0058]    As shown. 
         [0059]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational perspective view of an adjustable pressure digger rack in accordance with the present invention. The pressure digger rack  400  comprises a lever lock  120 , a foundation auger  202 , and a lifting adapter  402  defining a pin hole  408  and lifting eye  404 . 
         [0060]    The foundation auger  202  is secured to the rack  400  properly in the shown embodiment. The lever lock  120  has been locked down horizontally over the top surface of the flighting of the auger  202 . 
         [0061]    The lifting adapter  402  exists for facilitating craning or lifting overhead the foundation auger  202  and rack  400 . The lifting adapter  402  is detachable from the auger  202 . The lifting adapter  402  is insertable into the auger shaft  406  of the auger  202 , and connectable to the auger shaft  406  with a pin through the pin hole  408 . 
         [0062]    The shaft  406  of auger  202  defines a recess commonly used to connect the auger  202  to a drive motor. The lifting adapter  402  comprises a pin hole  408  into which a pin is insertable. The pin hole  408  may comprise a recess, bore, aperture, or groove in the auger  202  shaft usually used for connecting the auger  202  to the drive motor. The pin which traverses the pin hole  408  also traverses the auger shaft  406 . 
         [0063]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational perspective view of an adjustable pressure digger rack in accordance with the present invention. The pressure digger rack  500  comprises a sub frame  106 , track frame  102 , a locking lever  120 , a foundation auger  202 , and lifting adapter  402 . 
         [0064]      FIG. 5  shows an auger  202  in secured position in the rack  500  with a lifting adapter  402  insertably connected to the auger  202 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating the steps of a method  600  of storing a foundation auger on a rack in accordance with the present invention. 
         [0066]    The method  600  begins  602  with resting a auger  202  uprightly on a metallic frame such that the tip of the auger  202  is resting within a recess defined by the frame, which recess prevents lateral movement of the tip of the auger  202 . 
         [0067]    Adjusting  604  two or more tower assemblies  112  laterally on a track frame  102  such that the tower assemblies  112  abut, or nearly abut, helical flighting surrounding the auger  202 . The tower assemblies  112  are then secured in place to a track frame  102 . 
         [0068]    Adjusting  606  the height of two or more tower assemblies telescopically such that a locking mechanism on the tower assembly  112  is roughly even on a z axis with adjacent helical flighting on an auger  202 . 
         [0069]    Next the method  600  progresses as the flighting on the auger  202  is locked to, secured by, or affixed to the tower assembly  112  using means known to those skill in the art. 
         [0070]    Inserting a lifting adapter  610  into the auger shaft  610  and securing  612  the lifting adapter to the auger shaft using a pin which traverses the lifting assembly and auger shaft. 
         [0071]    Another step may include hoisting or lifting the rack and auger  202  from a ground surface using a crane, for lift, and the like. 
         [0072]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.