Abstract:
An extraction tool having an elongated base member having first and second ends, and a drill bit being removably attachable to a socket in the first end; the base member having a first threaded portion being disposed approximate the first end; the second end being adapted to be removably connected to a load bearing coupling.

Description:
[0001]    The present application is related to: 
         [0002]    co-pending patent application Ser. No. 11/734,215, filed on Apr. 11, 2007, of William A. Walker, Butler, Ohio; and 
         [0003]    co-pending Patent Application Ser. No. 61/187,722, filed on Jun. 17, 2009, of William A. Walker, Butler, Ohio; and 
         [0004]    patent application Ser. No. 11/395,659, now abandoned, filed on Apr. 3, 2006, of William A. Walker, Butler, Ohio; 
         [0005]    the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety as if fully rewritten herein. 
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Since the first inception of power and telephone poles very little innovation or new technologies have been introduced to remove these units once decayed or broken off due to hurricanes, accidents and/or other forces. 
         [0007]    Lineman (utility workers for power companies, etc.) have struggled to remove power poles. Many times, having to excavate around these poles in order to use a choker chain or a massive hydraulic pole jack. While these devises do have their functions they also have their shortcomings, slipping off or just pushing the pole to the side. This can be very dangerous, time consuming and expensive. 
         [0008]    The present invention has been designed for, but not limited to, the removal of power poles broken off at or near ground level due to auto accidents, flooding, storms and/or deterioration. 
         [0009]    The present invention adapts to a Kelly bar on line trucks (known in the art) thus enabling the lineman to drill into a pole, post, stump, etc, thereby anchoring the tool head into whatever item is to be removed. The lineman can then attach the pull ring to the tool and securely winch the pole (which can be 18 to 36 inches in diameter) out of the ground. Some of the larger poles may require a relief hole excavated next to it to relieve pressure and/or suction. The present invention is advantageous because one man can now perform a task once requiring multiple persons. This results in saving the company time and money while providing safety for the lineman. 
         [0010]    To remove the present invention from the rigid body, a spanner bar is inserted through the pull ring to unscrew, usually one to two turns counter clockwise and the tool will back out by hand. 
         [0011]    The essence of the present invention is the use of aggressive screw threads on a very tough steel shaft and having the ability to use interchangeable drill heads for penetration of objects being removed. The invention can then connected to the hydraulic drive by use of a Kelly Bar adapter powering and/or drilling into items of removal. 
         [0012]    The tip of the tool has a conical relief (transition from base into drill bit) to help prevent binding, burning and making for easier removal. The invention is then disconnected from the hydraulic drive and the pull ring (extraction coupling) is attached to the tool. A hydraulic winch is connected to the pull ring and the object is then pulled out or removed from the ground or water. The removal of this tool from an object is accomplished by turning the tool counter clockwise or until it is completely unscrewed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective, exploded view of base member  53  and kelly bar assembly  52   
           [0014]      FIG. 2  depicts a perspective view of base member  53  and kelly bar assembly  52   
           [0015]      FIG. 3  depicts a perspective, exploded view of base member  53  and extraction coupling  70   
           [0016]      FIG. 4  depicts a perspective view of base member  53  and extraction coupling  70   
       
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS 
       [0017]    The table below lists the reference numerals employed in the figures, and identifies the element designated by each numeral.
     53  base member  53       54  drive tool adapter  54       55  extraction tool adapter  55       56  threaded portion  56       57  squared head portion  57       58  drill bit  58       59  handle  59       60  middle portion  60  of base member     61  drill bit socket  61       62  adapter fastener  62       63  Kelly Bar Adapter  63       64  drill bit fasteners  64       65  drill bit coupling stem  65       66  adapter socket  66       67  drive tool fastener holes  67       68  extraction tool fastener holes  68       69  conical transition bit mounting foot  69       70  extraction coupling  70       74  upper end  74  of extraction coupling   
 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0037]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises base member  53 , kelly bar assembly  52 , and extraction coupling  70 . 
         [0038]    Base member  53  comprises squared head portion  57 , adapter socket  66 , cylindrical middle portion  60 , threaded portion  56 , conical transition bit mounting foot  69 , drill bit socket  61 , drill bit  58 , and a plurality of drill bit fasteners  64 . Kelly bar assembly  52  comprises drive tool adapter  54 , drive tool fastener holes  67 , and Kelly Bar Adapter  63 . Extraction coupling  70  comprises extraction tool adapter  55 , and handle  59 . Extraction tool fastener holes  68  are displaced on opposite sides of extraction coupling  70 . Extraction coupling  70  has an upper end  74 . Base member  53  works in conjunction with either kelly bar assembly  52  or extraction coupling  70 . Kelly Bar Adapter  63 , is attached by bolted flange to drive tool adapter  54 , which has two drive tool fastener holes  67 . 
         [0039]    Base member  53  is preferably formed of solid steel stock for optimum rigidity and torque resistance, and is preferably 36.0 inches in length. However, other lengths may be used; as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, the spirit of the invention comprises removal of rigid bodies from the ground; therefore, the overall length of base member  53  may be varied accordingly. 
         [0040]    Squared head portion  57  preferably has a cross section of 1.6 inches by 1.6 inches outside dimension and is preferably 5.0 inches in length. Squared head portion  57  has an adapter socket  66  (preferably 0.80 inches in diameter), located to enable releasable attachment to either drive tool adapter  54  or extraction tool adapter  55  by adapter fastener  62 . 
         [0041]    Squared head portion  57  transitions to a middle portion  60  which is preferably 2.0 inches in diameter. Middle portion  60  transitions to a threaded portion  56 , that is preferably a 2½″—4 UNC male-threaded rod and 12.0 inches in length. As will be apparent, various thread sizes may be used. It is preferred that the thread used is aggressive, so as to facilitate drilling through wood, etc. The length and thread design of threaded portion  56  is sufficient to adequately engage a rigid body for extraction without splitting the body or stripping the extraction hole. 
         [0042]    Threaded portion  56  transitions to conical transition bit mounting foot  69  and is preferably tapered from 2.0 inches in diameter to 1.38 inches in diameter. Conical transition bit mounting foot  69  is designed to help prevent binding, and burning, and it makes for easier removal of drill bit  58 . 
         [0043]    Bit mounting foot  69  has a centrally located drill bit socket  61  and a plurality of drill bit fasteners  64 . The preferred embodiment depicted comprises 2 drill bit fasteners. However, other quantities may be used provided the spirit of the invention is not compromised. 
         [0044]    Drill bit socket  61  is preferably 0.875 inches in diameter and 2.5 inches in length, and fabricated to accommodate the mounting of drill bit coupling stem  65  of drill bit  58 . 
         [0045]    Drill bit  58  is preferably made of steel and 1.5 inches in diameter and 4.5 inches in length. Drill bit  58  has a drill bit coupling stem  65  that is preferably cylindrical (so as to allow it to fit within drill bit socket  61 ), and 0.75 inches in diameter and 2.25 inches in length. 
         [0046]    Drill bit fasteners  64  are preferably stainless steel Allen screw sets of a predetermined size sufficient to secure drill bit coupling stem  65 . 
         [0047]    Preexisting Kelly Bar Adapter  63 , is attached by bolted flange to a preexisting drive tool adapter  54 , which has two drive tool fastener holes  67 . Drive tool adapter  54  is capable of releasable attachment to squared head portion  57  of base member  53 . Drive tool fastener holes  67 , located one on each of parallel opposite sides, are to be aligned with adapter socket  66 , and are preferably 0.80 inches in diameter. Drive tool adapter  54  has an inner recessed portion of rectangular cross section having dimensions of approximately 1.725 inches by 1.725 inches whereby squared head portion  57  is capable of fitting within. 
         [0048]    Extraction coupling  70  is made capable of releasable attachment to squared head portion  57  of base member  53 , and comprises extraction tool adapter  55 , handle  59 , and extraction tool fastener holes  68 . Extraction coupling  70  is preferably made of steel and 8.0 inches in length. 
         [0049]    Extraction tool adapter  55  is of sufficient thickness to provide sufficient rigidity and strength as required for the extraction of rigid bodies. It is preferably 4.0 inches in length, and has an outer cross section of 2.13 inches by 2.13 inches. Extraction tool adapter  55  has an inner recessed portion of rectangular cross section having dimensions of 1.725 inches by 1.725 inches whereby squared head portion  57  is capable of fitting within. 
         [0050]    Extraction tool fastener holes  68 , located one on each of parallel opposite sides, are to be aligned with adapter socket  66 , and are preferably 0.80 inches in diameter. 
         [0051]    Handle  59  is preferably welded onto upper end  74  of extraction coupling  70 , and 4.0 inches outer diameter and 0.50 inches thick. Handle  59  is made to provide sufficient rigidity and strength as required for extraction of the rigid body. The shape is such to allow for the hook shaped member of a winch system to be attached to handle  59  for extraction of the rigid body. The shape is also such to allow a worker to manually turn the handle to unscrew and disengage base member  53  (in combination with extraction coupling  70 ) from the rigid body. 
         [0052]    The primary purpose of drive tool adapter  54  and extraction tool adapter  55  is to accommodate squared head portion  57 . Therefore, as will be apparent, the shapes thereof may be deviated from provided said primary purpose is not compromised. 
         [0053]    Threaded adapter fastener  62  is preferably a common ⅝ inches diameter steel bolt with nut and lock washer, or a common ⅝ inches diameter steel belt-arm retaining pin with coil lock. Threaded adapter fastener  62  is preferably 0.7375 inches outer diameter and capable of fitting within adapter socket  66 , and within either drive tool fastener holes  67  or extraction tool fastener holes  68 . 
         [0054]    It is preferred that conical transition bit mounting foot  69 , threaded portion  56 , middle portion  60  of base member  53 , and squared head portion  57  be made from one piece of metal. This can be accomplished utilizing various known machining techniques. The invention as a whole is stronger in terms of its ability to withstand various forces, stresses, and tensions when made in this manner. However, other techniques may be used. The various parts of the invention can originate as separate pieces being joined together. Various means of joining, such as welding, can be used provided the invention maintains sufficient strength. 
         [0055]    The preferred embodiment depicted comprises squared head portion  57  having larger cross-sectional dimensions than the diameter of middle portion  60  of base member  53 . This is not essential. In fact, if the invention is machined out of one piece of metal, squared head portion  57  will have smaller cross-sectional dimensions. This is acceptable and also preferred. The foregoing designs may be used provided squared head portion  57  can fit within drive tool adapter  54  and extraction tool adapter  55 . Thus the radius of middle portion  60  of base member can be varied to achieve the foregoing. 
         [0056]    As will be appreciated, the purpose of the present invention is to be embedded within another object and extract it upon being pulled. Accordingly, it will be apparent that middle portion  60  of base member  53  does not have to have circular cross section. It can have any shape provided the structural integrity is not compromised. 
         [0057]    As will be appreciated, the present invention is intended to be used with pre-existing kelly bar assembly  52 . Accordingly, as will be obvious, these pre-existing elements can be found in various sizes and squared head portion  57  and extraction coupling  70  can be varied in size to accommodate such variations. 
         [0058]    It is preferred that drill bit  58  not be specially made but of the off-the-shelf variety. Accordingly, the sizes of drill bit coupling stem  65  and drill bit socket  61  may be varied as needed. It is preferred that drill bit  58  be sized so as to facilitate the insertion of the threaded portion  56  into a rigid body (e.g. wooden pole). An oversized drill bit will prevent the threads from digging in. 
         [0059]    In operation, the user first attaches drill bit  58  to base member  53 . Drill bit coupling stem  65  of drill bit  58  is capable of releasable attachment to drill bit socket  61 , and is secured by drill bit fasteners  64 . Next, kelly bar assembly  52  is attached to squared head portion  57  of base member  53 , and secured by inserting adapter fastener  62  through drive tool fastener holes  67  and adapter socket  66 . 
         [0060]    Kelly Bar Adapter  63  is then connected to the matching Kelly Bar of a drive system. Drill bit  58  of the tool is then positioned centrally in the exposed end of a rigid body that requires removal from the ground or from the water. The drive is engaged to transfer rotational and downward force through base member  53  and drill bit  58  to enable the improved extraction tool to be inserted within the rigid body to a predetermined length. Threaded portion  56  of base member  53  thereby engages and secures the rigid body for removal. 
         [0061]    The drive with Kelly Bar is then disengaged from Kelly Bar Adapter  63 . Adapter fastener  62  is removed, and kelly bar assembly  52  is detached from squared head portion  57 . Next, extraction coupling  70  is attached to squared head portion  57  of base member  53 , and secured by inserting adapter fastener  62  through extraction tool fastener holes  68  and adapter socket  66 . 
         [0062]    A winch device and/or pulling system is then attached to handle  59  of extraction coupling  70 . The pulling system transfers vertical force through base member  53  to enable the improved extraction tool to be used to lift the rigid body and remove it from the ground or from the water. The body is removed and laid on the ground with the invention embedded therein. 
         [0063]    After the rigid body is moved to its desired location, the user inserts a spanner bar or similar device through handle  59  of extraction coupling  70 . The spanner bar is turned so as to reverse the drill bit  58  (e.g. counterclockwise) to remove the extraction tool from the rigid body. It may be necessary to use one or more “can hooks” (known in the art) to hold the body in place as the tool is removed. The spanner bar is used to break it free. Then, a screw driver (or equivalent) is inserted through handle  59  to unscrew the invention the rest of the way. 
         [0064]    As will be apparent, base member  53  could be combined with kelly bar assembly  52  or extraction coupling  70  thus forming two separate tools. Such an embodiment is not preferred because the efficiency achieved by the interchangeability of base member  53  with kelly bar assembly  52  and extraction coupling  70  would be lost. However, this embodiment is possible. 
         [0065]    As will be apparent, base member  53  could be modified such that drill bit  58  is not separate but part of the base member. Although possible, this embodiment is not preferred. 
         [0066]    As will be apparent, the present invention can achieved by assembling various parts or by machining one part to have the necessary shapes using means and/or methods known in the art to achieve the spirit of the invention. The spirit of this invention comprises using a first rigid body (e.g. a base member) to bore within a second rigid body (e.g. a wooden pole) embedded within a confinement (e.g. the ground), the first rigid body is pulled thus pulling the second rigid body from the confinement, and then removing the first rigid body from the second rigid body.