Patent Publication Number: US-7588403-B2

Title: Pole handling apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Elongated pole or mast structures, such as flagpoles, utility poles, light standards, sign posts and similar structures, are difficult to handle with respect to placing the pole erect in a working position or removing the pole from a working position. Typically, such structures are manipulated by cranes supporting block and tackle type rigging connected to the pole to be handled. However, this type of handling of elongated flagpoles, for example, is difficult and somewhat hazardous. 
   Accordingly, there has been a need to develop equipment or apparatus for handling elongated pole-like structures, such as flagpoles, utility poles, masts and similar structures. It is to these ends that the present invention has been developed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a pole handling apparatus useful for placing poles, such as flag poles, in their working positions and removing such poles from their working positions. 
   In accordance with one aspect of the present invention an apparatus is provided for attachment to or including a so-called loader, such as a tractor type loader or a skid steer type loader vehicle. Such vehicles are typically provided with spaced apart moveable booms which may be raised and lowered by hydraulic actuators, for example. The boom distal ends are adapted to pivotally support a support member for connection of a loader bucket or other attachments, for example to the booms. The apparatus of the present invention is advantageously mountable on the aforementioned support member, which support member is moveable with respect to the aforementioned booms by additional actuators, such as hydraulic cylinder and piston assemblies. Still further, the apparatus of the invention includes a frame for attachment to the loader support member and pair of jaws moveable relative to each other between pole clamping and non-clamping positions. The pole clamping jaws are mounted on an elongated support beam which places the jaws laterally to one side of the loader booms and the jaws and other structure may be counter-weighted by an adjustable counterweight mechanism which extends from an opposite side of the apparatus of the present invention. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the aforementioned apparatus is particularly advantageously configured in conjunction with the moveable booms for grasping a pole in a horizontal reclined position, and extending the loader booms or arms, as well as the member supporting the apparatus frame for rotating the pole from a reclined position to a substantially erect or vertically oriented position or placement in another working position of the pole. The jaws of the pole handling apparatus are controlled by an actuator which may be a pressure fluid actuator, such as a hydraulic cylinder type actuator, and may be controlled by the operator of the loader vehicle or apparatus to selectively grip the pole and release the pole sufficiently to allow placement of the pole in it working position. The apparatus of the present invention provides several advantages including operation in conjunction with so-called loader type vehicles of various types which include one or more moveable booms and a support member moveable relative to the boom or booms. The apparatus is relatively mechanically uncomplicated and durable and may be adjusted for handling poles of a wide variety of diameters, lengths, and weights, for example. 
   Those skilled in the art will further appreciate the above-mentioned advantages and superior features of the invention together with other important aspects thereof upon reading the detailed description which follows in conjunction with the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevation of a pole handling apparatus of the invention shown grasping a utility or flag pole in a reclined or generally horizontal position; 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  showing the booms and support member moved to a position whereby the pole has been oriented in a substantially vertical position; 
       FIG. 3  is a rear elevation of the apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and taken generally from the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , taken generally from line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a detail section view taken generally along the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ; and 
       FIG. 6  is a detail section view taken generally along the line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   In the description which follows like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawing with the same reference numerals, respectively. The drawing figures may not be to scale and certain features may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated the invention in combination with an apparatus particularly useful for and comprising, essentially, a part of the invention. An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus is disclosed herein and is generally designated by the numeral  10 . The apparatus  10  is commonly referred to as a loader and includes a self propelled, motorized, chassis  12 , spaced apart support wheels  14  and  16  and an operators cab  18 . The apparatus  10  may take various forms, but one apparatus useful as part of or in conjunction with the invention is a so-called skid steer type loader. One useful embodiment of the apparatus  10  is a 300 series skid steer loader manufactured by Deere &amp; Company, Moline, Ill. and characterized as a self propelled skid steer vehicle which supports spaced apart moveable booms  20  and  22 , see  FIG. 4  also. 
   Booms  20  and  22  may be identical or mirror image parts with respect to each other and only boom  20  is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Booms  20  and  22  are mounted on chassis  12  for movement with respect thereto by linkages or arms  23 , one shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , which arms are pivotably connected to chassis  12  at one end and to booms  20  and  22  at an opposite end, respectively, and as indicated by pivot points  23   a  and  23   b  for boom  20 ,  FIG. 2 . The booms  20  and  22  may be moved between a somewhat reclined or intermediate position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , to a more elevated position by pressure fluid actuators, such as hydraulic cylinder and piston type actuators  24 , one shown in the drawing  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Actuators  24  are operator controlled for moving the booms  20  and  22  at will. 
   Booms  20  and  22  are provided with distal ends  20   a  and  22   a , see  FIG. 4  also, which are each pivotably connected to a support member  26  extending therebetween. Support member  26  may be moved relative to the booms  20  and  22  by additional pressure fluid actuators comprising hydraulic piston and cylinder type actuators  28   a  and  28   b , suitably operably connected between respective booms  20  and  22  and support member  26 , again, see  FIG. 4 . Support member  26  may take various configurations but one configuration operable with the present invention comprises a support member frame part  27 ,  FIG. 6 , and one or more spaced apart support plates  28  each having a somewhat diamond or triangular shaped upper end  29 , and a lower flange  31 ,  FIG. 6 . 
   Those skilled in the art will recognize that the articulation structure of the loader  10  may be, essentially, reproduced in other self-propelled vehicles, such as conventional tractors, other off-road vehicles and other types of so-called skid steer vehicles wherein the apparatus of the invention essentially requires one or more movable booms and a support member mounted at a distal end of the boom and movable relative to the boom for manipulation of the apparatus of the invention. 
   Referring further to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the invention includes a pole grasping and handling apparatus, generally designated by the numeral  30 . Apparatus  30  includes a frame  32 , see  FIGS. 1 ,  4  and  6 , characterized by an elongated plate-like member  34  which is configured with a somewhat diamond or triangular shaped recess  36  for receiving corresponding diamond or triangular shaped projections  29  on the support member  26 , as illustrated. Plate member  34  may conform somewhat to the shape of the support member  28  and may include one or more spaced apart recesses  38 , one shown in  FIG. 6  for receiving bosses  28   c  of support plate  28 , one shown, which bosses are hollow and may project through the recesses or openings  38  and are operable to be locked in position by one or more removable keys  28   d ,  FIG. 6 , for example. Frame  32  further includes spaced apart gussets  40  secured to plate  34  and to an elongated tubular beam  42  of apparatus  30 . 
   Referring further to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , one end of beam  42  is connected to a transversely extending tubular post member  44  which supports spaced apart pole grasping jaw support plates  46  and  48 . Support plates  46  and  48  are fixed to post  44  and are not moveable relative to each other. Support plates  46  and  48  support moveable pole grasping jaw support plates  50  and  52 ,  FIG. 3 , which are essentially identical in shape as are the plates  46  and  48  with respect to each other. Jaw support plates  50  and  52  are interconnected by a square cross section post member  54 ,  FIGS. 3 and 4 , and are also pivotally connected to the jaw support plates  46  and  48  at a pivot pin  56 . 
   As further shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , apparatus  30  includes an actuator  58 , preferably comprising a hydraulic cylinder and piston type actuator, which is secured at one end  58   a  to a member  42   c  secured to tubular beam  42 . The opposite or piston rod end  58   b  of actuator  58  is suitably secured to post member  54  whereby, in response to extension of the actuator  58 , the jaw support plates  50  and  52  move in unison in a counterclockwise director, viewing  FIG. 4 , with respect to the pivot connection at pivot pin  56 . In  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the jaws of the apparatus  30 , supported by the sets of support plates  46 ,  48  and  50 ,  52  are in a closed position grasping a flag pole  60 , for example. 
   Referring further to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the apparatus  30  includes pole grasping jaws  62  and  64 . Jaw  62  is supported by and between support plates  46  and  48  and jaw  64  is supported by and between movable jaw support plates  50  and  52 . Jaws  62  and  64  may be formed by right angle steel metal shapes, for example. Jaws  62  and  64  may be provided with suitable non-abrasive replaceable jaw liners  66 , respectively to prevent marring or denting an aesthetically pleasing pole, such as an elongated flag pole. 
   Referring still further to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5 , the tubular beam  42  is adapted to support and receive a telescoping counterweight beam member  43  which is shown received within tubular beam  42  in the drawing figures. Counterweight beam  43  supports plural disc-like counterweights  45  at its distal end and which are removably retained connected to the distal end of counterweight beam  43  by a suitable retainer  47 . Moreover, the position of the counterweights  45  with respect to the support member  26  may be adjusted by moving the counterweight beam  43  longitudinally within the tubular beam  42  to a selected position and retaining the counterweight beam in its selected position by one or more removable retaining pins  70 , one shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   Retaining pin  70  may be selectively located within one or more openings  72 ,  FIG. 4 , formed in tubular beam  42 . One or more corresponding openings  73  may be formed in beam  43  and, when selected openings  72  and  73  are aligned with each other, permit insertion of the retaining pin or pins  70 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , for example. In this way, depending upon the length and weight of a pole to be handled by the apparatus  30 , the apparatus may be stabilized by positioning the counterweights  45  at a greater or lesser distance from the support member  26  and also positioned closer to or further from a centerline of the vehicle or apparatus  10 , for example. 
   In the operation of the apparatus  10 ,  30  the frame  34  is suitably connected to the support member  26 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , and the booms  20  and  22  positioned generally as indicated in  FIG. 1 , for pickup of a pole, such as the pole  60 . In this position the booms  20  and  22  may be at least partially elevated by their respective actuators  24  and the support member  26  may be moved to a position generally parallel to the ground surface  11  on which the apparatus  10  is disposed by extension of the actuators  28   a  and  28   b  to pivot the frame  30  into the position shown with the jaws  62  and  64  extending substantially horizontally in a position to grasp the pole  60 . Jaws  62  and  64  are moved relative to each other by actuation of the actuator  58  which may be carried out by the operator of the apparatus  10  along with operation of the actuators  24 ,  28   a  and  28   b.    
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , for example, an auxiliary hydraulic circuit, commonly available on apparatus such as the apparatus  10 , is operable to supply pressure fluid to the actuator  58  via a reversible control valve  80  which may include a manual or operator controlled actuator  82 . Pressure fluid is provided by a pump  84  and an exemplary hydraulic reservoir  86  is operable to receive hydraulic fluid from a return line or circuit  88  while hydraulic fluid is supplied by way of the valve  80  to the actuator  58  through a supply line  90 . The amount of grip applied to the pole  60  may be controlled by the operator of the apparatus  10  by way of the control valve  80 ,  82 . Accordingly, with a pole, such as the pole  60 , resting in a reclined position, the apparatus  10  may be positioned adjacent to the pole and the booms  20 ,  22  manipulated to position the jaws  62 ,  64  generally over or above the pole and with the jaws in an open position lower the booms  20 ,  22  to place the jaws in a position to grasp the pole when the actuator  58  retracts its piston rod to the position shown in  FIG. 4 . Once the pole  60  is firmly grasped, the apparatus  10  may move the pole to a location for insertion in the ground  11  or other structure and then raise the booms  20 ,  22  to, generally, the position shown in  FIG. 2 . Once the booms  20  and  22  have been raised to a suitable elevation so that the lower end  60   a  of pole  60  will clear the ground  11 , the actuators  28   a  and  28   b  may be retracted to a position which will orient the support member  26  with its support plate  28  substantially vertical which will place the frame  32  also in a substantially vertical position as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6  whereby the jaws  62  and  64  are also now extending substantially vertically. The apparatus  10  may be moved to a selected position for placement of the pole  60  in a suitable receptacle, such as a hole  11   a  in the earth&#39;s surface,  FIG. 2 , after suitable preparation of the hole. With the pole  60  positioned as shown in  FIG. 2 , the operator may relax pressure on the cylinder actuator  58  to allow the jaws  62  and  64  to relax their grip on the pole  60  and allow same to slide downwardly into the aforementioned receptacle. Once the pole  60  is stabilized in its working position, the actuator  58  may be operated to rotate the jaw  64  away from the jaw  62  sufficiently to allow the apparatus to be moved away from the pole whereby the booms  20 ,  22  may then be lowered and the apparatus  10  placed in a selected position for its next operation. 
   Those skilled in the art will recognize that, for retrieving a pole from its working position to a reclining or transport position, the order of steps described above may be substantially reversed. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the apparatus  10 ,  30  is particularly versatile for handling pole like structures such as flag poles, utility poles, and other mast-like structures, all of which present certain problems in handling for movement between a reclined position and an erect working position. The apparatus of the invention is operable to handle poles of various configurations including poles of various cross sectional shapes including circular, square, octagonal and other shapes used for elongated pole structures. Moreover, the actuators described herein, including actuator  58 , may be other than pressure fluid operated. 
   The fabrication of the apparatus  30 , in particular, may be carried out using conventional manufacturing techniques and engineering materials used for construction equipment and the like and also using conventional components, such as hydraulic cylinder and piston type actuators and associated control elements. 
   Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that various substitutions and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.