Abstract:
An apparatus is provided for facilitating quick and accurate placement of a pole in a post hole for building pole buildings and for holding the post in such position during backfilling, tamping and/or concrete placement in the post hole. A post clamping device holds the post during a time when other adjusting aspects of the present invention can be used to move a post up or down, from side to side in at least two directions, tipping in any direction and rotation about a vertical axis of the post.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a Continuation in Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/842,507 filed Aug. 21, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and from which priority is being claimed. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to an attachment to a prime mover, such as a skid loader, and more particularly to an apparatus for facilitating quick and accurate placement of poles in a post hole for building pole buildings. 
     2. Background Art 
     When building pole buildings a most important first step is to install poles in the ground at specified places. It is very important to set the poles so they extend straight up vertically from the ground. If the poles are not leveled and square so they are all vertical and substantially parallel with one another, this can cause structural defects in the pole building that is being constructed. 
     Prior art installation of poles for pole buildings typically involves starting with a string line to outline the location of the building to be built, drilling post holes in the ground, placing a pole in each post hole and then using a post level to simultaneously check and adjust the position of each post while backfilling and tamping of the dirt in the hole is done, often in combination with putting concrete in the hole as well or using concrete to fill the entire hole around the post. 
     It is a problem first to get each respective post in a perfectly vertical position and secondly to be able to hold the post straight while performing these backfilling, tamping and or concrete filling operations. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,515 to Kalbfleisch shows a device attached to a skid loader for clamping a post in a horizontal position, lifting the post, turning the post from a horizontal position to a vertical position so it can be lowered into a post hole, but it does not have a precise way to adjust the post to make sure it is perfectly vertical during the process of backfilling, tamping and or adding concrete to the post hole around the post. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a method and apparatus to overcome the aforesaid problems. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates an apparatus for facilitating quick and accurate placement of poles in a post hole for building pole buildings and for holding the post in such position during backfilling, tamping and/or concrete placement in the post hole. A post clamping device holds the post during a time when other adjusting devices can be used to move a post up or down, from side to side, tipping in any direction and rotation about a vertical axis of the post. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for facilitating quick and accurate placement of poles in a post hole for building pole buildings 
     Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other attributes of the invention will become more clear upon a thorough study of the following detailed description of the invention, particularly when reviewed in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention attached to a skid loader and showing a post and post hole in dashed lines to illustrate how a post can be quickly, easily and accurately placed in a post hole and held in a proper position while the post hole is backfilled, tamped and/or while concrete is placed in the post hole; 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of a lower portion of the preferred embodiment showing how a universal joint permits virtually unlimited tipping of the upper part of the apparatus and how a hydraulic cylinder can be used to slide a base plate from side to side; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of the universal joint shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of an upper portion of the preferred embodiment showing a hydraulic cylinder in dashed lines for raising or lowering a post clamping structure and also showing how another hydraulic cylinder controls the post clamping structure and also showing a mechanism to permit pivoting of the clamping structure about a vertical axis; 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevational view from the right side of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view showing the structure that permits the clamping device to be pivoted about a vertical axis among the positions shown in solid and dashed lines in  FIG. 6 , and the hydraulic cylinder that permits the clamping structure to be moved forwardly or backwardly as shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged perspective view of the structure permitting the pivoting of the clamping structure about a substantially vertical axis and a mechanism for locking the clamping structure in a desired pivoted position; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention attached to a skid loader and showing a post and post hole in dashed lines to illustrate how a post can be quickly, easily and accurately grasped while the post is on the ground; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the present invention attached to a skid loader but showing a post in dashed lines to illustrate how a post can be quickly, easily and accurately placed in a post hole and held in a proper position while the post hole is backfilled, tamped and/or while concrete is placed in the post hole; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9  showing a post and post hole in dashed lines to illustrate how a post can be quickly, easily and accurately placed in a post hole and held in a proper position while the post hole is backfilled, tamped and/or while concrete is placed in the post hole; 
         FIG. 11  is a front elevational view of a lower portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 8  showing how a universal joint permits virtually unlimited tipping of the upper part of the apparatus and how a hydraulic cylinder can be used to slide a base plate from side to side; 
         FIG. 11   a  is a view taken along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 11   b  is a an enlarged perspective view a portion of the structure shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged perspective view of the circled portion of  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a side elevational view showing how lengthening or shortening one of the turnbuckles will pivot a vertical post to the left or right of vertical about one horizontal axis; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a hand held device with four buttons for controlling electric over hydraulic valves to control clamping/unclamping of a post and moving a post up or down once the post has been clamped; 
         FIG. 15  is a view taken along line  15 - 15  of  FIG. 13  but turned ninety degrees; and 
         FIG. 16  is an enlarged partial view taken along line  16 - 16  of  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention for installing poles for pole buildings attached to a skid loader  10 . A frame  20  is shown welded to the skid loader  10  via a universal type attachment plate  11 . A mounting plate  30  is slideably attached to the frame  20  along a first axis  1  as can best be seen in  FIG. 2 , by brackets  13 , which extend around and are slideable on beam  12 . 
     Looking to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a first member  40  has a second axis  2 , shown best in  FIG. 1 , the first member  40  being operatively pivotally attached to the plate  30  for pivoting about a third  3  and a fourth axis  4 . A first hydraulic cylinder actuator  31  is operatively attached to the frame  20 , via beam  12 , and to the plate  30  for moving the plate  30  back and forth along the first axis  1  thereof using a first hydraulic valve  32 . The first member  40  is attached to the plate  30  by the universal joint  16  shown in detail in  FIG. 3 . Tabs  17  are welded to plate  30 , tabs  18  welded to bracket  19  and pins  21  and  22  allow pivoting of the first member  40  about axes  3  and  4 , respectively. 
     Looking at  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a second turnbuckle type actuator  41  is operatively attached to the mounting plate  30  and to the first member  40  for selectively pivoting the first member  40  about the third axis  3 . 
     Looking at  FIG. 1  again, a turnbuckle type third actuator  42  is operatively attached to the mounting plate  30  and to the first member  40  for selectively pivoting the first member  40  about the fourth axis  4 . 
     As can best be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , a second member  50  is rigidly attached to the first member  40  and is moveable up or down along the second axis  2  via a sixth actuator  43 , which is a hydraulic cylinder, operatively attached to the first and second members  40  and  50  for selectively moving the second member  50  up or down along the second axis  2  with respect to the first member  40  and is controlled using a hydraulic valve  44  as shown in  FIG. 1 . A threaded nut  45 , welded to second member  50 , has the post part of hydraulic cylinder  43  threaded onto it. Conveyor type bearings  52 , attached to member  50 , contact member  40  and reduce the friction of the member  50  as it slides up or down with respect to member  40 . 
     A third member  60 , as best shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  4  and  6 , is telescopically disposed inside of the second member  50  for movement in a direction in or out along an axis  4  substantially perpendicular to the second axis  2 . A fourth actuator  51 , which is a hydraulic cylinder, is operatively attached to the second member  50  and to the third member  60  for selectively moving the third member  60  along the fourth axis  4  with respect to the second member  50 . A hydraulic valve  53 , as can be seen in  FIG. 1 , is used to control the hydraulic cylinder  51 . 
     Looking now to  FIGS. 1 ,  4 ,  6  and  7 , a fourth member  70  is operatively pivotally attached to the third member  60  about a fifth axis  5  substantially parallel to the second axis  2 . Fourth member  70  as seen in  FIG. 6  is considered to be the L-shaped member  70   a  which is welded to the member identified as fourth member  70  in  FIG. 6 . Of course the fourth member  70  could all be made of one piece or of more pieces than shown in the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings. 
     A plate  63  is welded to one end of the third member  60  as can best be seen in  FIG. 4 . Bearings  64  are attached to the plate  63 . A disc  65 , which can be like a disc brake on an automobile, is rigidly attached to a rod  66 , which rod  66  is, in turn welded to the fourth member  70  thereby allowing the fourth member  70  to pivot along axis  5  with respect to the third member  60  as can best be seen in  FIG. 7 . 
     A locking mechanism  79  as seen in  FIGS. 4 and 7 , include a plate  73 , welded to plate  63  and a plate  74 , bolted rigidly to the plate  73  with a spacer  75  disposed between the plates  73  and  74  so that the disc  65  can rotate between the plates  73  and  74 . A threaded nut  76  is welded to the plate  74  to receive threaded end  77  of a stop member  78 . When it is desired to hold the plate  65  and fourth member  70  in a desired position, the stop member  78  is rotated to tighten the threaded end  77  tightly against the disc  65  to frictionally hold the disc  65  and fourth member  70  from rotating with respect to third member  60  about axis  5 . 
     A fifth actuator  71 , which is a hydraulic cylinder, is operatively attached to the fourth member  70  and to the second clamping device  90  for controlling selective movement of the second clamping device  90  with respect to the first clamping device  80 . The first clamping device  80  is rigidly attached to the fourth member  70  and a second clamping device  90  is operatively attached to the fourth member  70  via a hydraulic cylinder  71  for movement back and forth towards and away from clamping device  80  using a hydraulic valve  72 , which is shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     In operation, a string line is constructed to define the outline of the building. Then the places where the posts are to be inserted into the ground are marked. Then the post holes are dug. 
     The post  22  is typically first placed in a post hole  21  as shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 1 , which could be done manually or with mechanized equipment. Then the skid loader with the invention attached thereto is driven towards the post  22  with the clamping devices  80  and  90  farther apart than the width of the post  22 , for example as shown in  FIG. 5 . When the clamping devices  80  and  90  are disposed on each side of the post  22 , the valve  72  is actuated to shorten the length of the hydraulic cylinder  71 , which will cause the clamping device to push the post against clamping device  80  and securely hold the post  22 . 
     After the post  22  has been clamped as shown in  FIG. 1 , the valve  44  is used to lengthen the hydraulic cylinder  43 , which will raise the second member  50  and everything attached to it, including post  22 . With the post  22  slightly raised off of the bottom of the post hole  21 , the post is “leveled” in all directions until it is completely vertical and moved into position so it is aligned with and adjacent to the string line. 
     It is not so important which of the leveling steps are done first, but here is one way it can be done. Assuming that the post  22  is on a corner of the building to be constructed there will be two perpendicular string lines  23  and  24  shown in dashed lines in  FIG. 1 . The mechanism  61  shown in FIGS.  1  and  4 - 7  is utilized to make the sides of the post closest to the string lines  23  and  24  parallel to the string lines by loosening the handle  78  to allow the post  22  to pivot with respect to the string line about axis  5 . After the desired pivoting of the post  22  has been done, then the handle  78  is tightened so that the threaded rod  77  is in solid contact with the disc  65 , which will prevent further rotation about the axis  5 . 
     At that time then valve  32  is used to actuate the hydraulic cylinder  31  to move the post  22  towards and wherein the closest side of the post  22  is in close alignment with, i.e. parallel with, the string line  23 . After that, the valve  53  is actuated to cause the hydraulic cylinder  51  to move the post  22  towards the string line  24  until the post  22  is close to and the closest side of the post  22  is aligned with, i.e. parallel with, the string line  24 . 
     A next step is to put a post level  25 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , onto the post  22 . This post level  25  can be of the type shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. Des. 332,058 and 5,207,004, both to Gruetzmacher, and both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. While viewing the post level  25 , turnbuckle  41  is adjusted to pivot the post  22  about axis  4  and turnbuckle  42  is adjusted to pivot the post  22  about axis  3 , until the post is completely vertical. Then the valve  44  is actuated again to cause the hydraulic cylinder  43  to lower the post  22  until it is firmly back against the bottom of the post hole  21 . 
     At that time the post  22  is accurately held in a vertical position. Then the dirt is backfilled and tamped into the hole  21  around the post  22 . Alternatively, concrete can be place in the hole  21 , or at least the bottom part of the hole  21  and more backfilling can occur to hold the post  22  in place until the concrete cures, while at the same time the post is held in the vertical position by the backfilling of the dirt. Once the backfilling has occurred, the operator can move on to install the next post in the next post hole using the same or a similar procedure. 
     A second preferred embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 8-16 . The apparatus shown in  FIG. 8  has a post  122  lying on the ground.  FIG. 8  shows a skid loader  100  with hydraulic cylinders  210  and  212  which manipulate a plate  111  which has post  120  welded perpendicular thereto. A mounting plate  130  is reciprocally mounted to the post  120 . A brief operation of the apparatus is that in  FIG. 8  a post  122  lying on the ground can be clamped and then by shortening the hydraulic cylinders  210  and  212  from the  FIG. 8  position to the  FIG. 9  position, the post  122  can be moved to an upright position over a hole in the ground shown below the post  122  in  FIG. 9 . 
     The mounting plate  130  can be seen in  FIGS. 11 ,  11   a  and  11   b  as being movable with respect to the beam  120  by using the hydraulic cylinder  131  which is pivotally attached at one end to a bracket  131   a  and which bracket  131   a  is welded to a beam  112 . The other end of the hydraulic cylinder  131  is pivotally attached to a bracket  130   a  which is welded to the mounting plate  130  so that when the hydraulic cylinder is lengthened, for example as shown in  FIG. 11 , the mounting plate  130  will move to the right and when hydraulic cylinder  131  is shortened, the mounting plate  130  will move to the left as viewed in  FIG. 11 . Looking at  FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b  the beam  120  is shown having a hole in it with hydraulic cylinder  131  extending through it. 
     The mounting plate  130  is mounted in a reciprocal fashion by brackets  140   b  as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . These brackets  140   b  are welded to post  120  as can best be seen in  FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b . A vertical post or first member  140  is mounted to pivot about a universal joint  140   u  which is bolted to the mounting plate  130 . In  FIG. 10  it can be seen that turnbuckle  141  pivots the post adjustably along axis  4  and turnbuckle  142  will pivot the post along axis  3  as shown in  FIG. 10 . Looking at  FIG. 11 , turnbuckle  41  pivots post or first member  140  about the axis  4  as can be seen by the arrows at the top of  FIG. 11 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 13 , it can be seen by referring to the dashed lines that turning the turnbuckle  142  one direction or the other pivots the post or first member  140  about axis  3 . 
     Looking to  FIG. 10 , a post grasping and moving apparatus  200  is grasping and moving the post  122  vertically up or down. The post  122  is mounted to the vertical post or first member  140  by a beam or second member  160  having a hydraulic cylinder  151  attached at one end thereto, the hydraulic cylinder  151  being shown in  FIG. 13  as being attached to a bracket  165 . Inside of the beam or second member  160  is a telescoping internal beam or third member  160   a  which allows the bracket  165  shown in  FIG. 13  to move to the right or left depending on whether the hydraulic cylinder  151  is lengthened or shortened. 
     Looking at  FIG. 9 , it can be seen that if the hydraulic cylinder  151  is extended, the post  122  and post grasping apparatus  200  will be moved to the left. Still looking at  FIG. 9  if the hydraulic cylinder  151  is shortened by using one of the levers on hydraulic control  132 , the post  122  and post grasping apparatus  200  will move to the right. 
     Looking to  FIG. 13 , the post grasping apparatus  200  will move to the right when the hydraulic cylinder  151  is lengthened and to the left when the hydraulic cylinder  151  is shortened. 
     Looking to  FIG. 10 , it can be seen that the hydraulic cylinder  151  and the beam or second member  160  extend through an opening  140   a  in the upstanding post or first member  140 . The beam or second member  160  is actually welded to the post or first member  140  at the bottom of the opening  140   a  as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , member  166  is rigidly attached to telescoping member or third member  160   a , which can also be seen in  FIG. 16 . 
     Turning again to  FIG. 13 , bearings  106  have shaft  105  disposed therein so that the receiver hitch  107  can be pivoted about the pin  105  using hydraulic cylinder  161  shown in  FIG. 16 . The post grasping and moving device  200 , looking at  FIG. 13 , is attached to the receiver hitch  107 , similar to the way that a ball hitch would be attached to the rear of a pickup truck with a receiver, and has a pin  108  which can be placed through openings in receiver hitch  107  and through receiver  109 , to which yoke  152  is rigidly attached. 
     If it is desired to pivot the entire post grasping apparatus  200  about the pin  105 , then the hydraulic cylinder  161  as shown in  FIG. 16  will be either lengthened or shortened to cause such pivoting about the axis  5  shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     The post grasping apparatus  200  can be seen in  FIGS. 9 ,  10 ,  15  and  16  and has a first side or first clamping device  180  which is rigidly attached to a post  170 . The other side or second clamping device  190  of the post grasping apparatus  200  is attached rigidly to a member  191  that slides in slot  171  of beam  170  as shown in  FIG. 15 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 16  it can be seen that a hydraulic cylinder  171   a  is attached solidly through a pivot pin to beam  170  on the left and is attached to the member  191  on the right side so that as the hydraulic cylinder  171   a  is lengthened to the dashed-lined position shown in  FIG. 16 , the second clamping device  190  of the grasping device  200  will be moved in that direction as well and of course when the hydraulic cylinder  171   a  is shortened it will move to the solid line position shown in  FIG. 16 . This of course allows the post  122  to be solidly pinched and held between rollers  182  and  192  and rollers  183  and  193 , respectively, as shown in  FIG. 15 . 
     The rollers or wheels  182  and  183  of part  180  of grasping device  200  are rotatable about pins  184   a  and  183   a  respectively and are rigidly attached to sprockets  184  and  185 . Another sprocket  186  is rotatably attached to the housing or first clamping device  180  and a chain  187  is disposed around sprockets  184 ,  185  and  186  as shown in  FIG. 15 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 16 , it will be seen that a hydraulic reversible motor  181  is shown, which will rotate the sprocket  186  in one direction when hydraulic fluid is run through it in one direction or will rotate the sprocket  186  in an opposite direction when the flow through the hydraulic motor  181  is reversed. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 15 , wheels  192  and  193  are rotatably attached via bearings or shafts  194  and  195  respectively, and these rollers  192  and  193  are not powered but are just idler rollers, though making them powered if synchronized with the opposite direction movement of rollers  182  and  183  would be acceptable as well. 
     In operation, referring again to  FIG. 8 , an operator using skid loader  100  would have the apparatus attached thereto and would have lengthened the hydraulic cylinders  210  and  212  that are on the skid loader  100  so that the plate  111  is in the horizontal position shown. This will of course cause the mounting plate  130  to be in a vertical orientation and most importantly this ultimately results in the post grasping apparatus  200  be in the position shown in  FIG. 8  so that it can be moved around the post  122 . Once the post grabbing parts, i.e. first clamping plate device  180  and second clamping device  190  of post grabbing device  200  are to each side of the post  122 , then the hydraulic cylinder  171   a  is shortened as can be seen in  FIG. 16  until the wheels  182 ,  192 ,  183  and  193  solidly grasp the post, for example as shown in  FIG. 15 , wherein the post  122  will be pinched between rollers  182  and  192  and also pinched between rollers  183  and  193 . 
     At that time, the operator would shorten the hydraulic cylinders  210  and  212  of the skid loader  100  in  FIG. 8  to move the entire apparatus to the position shown in  FIG. 9  which will move the post  122  to a vertical position. The skid loader  100  can then be driven to a position so that the post  122  is approximately above a post hole below it to which it is to be inserted. If the top or bottom of the post  122  is not totally vertical, the turnbuckles  141  and  142  can be manually adjusted as explained above. If the post  122  is too close or too far from the skid loader  100  compared to the hole, the hydraulic cylinder  151  can be either lengthened or shortened to position the post above the hole. If it is desired to pivot the post  122  so that one of the flat sides of the post  122  will be in a certain desired orientation for a pole building, then the hydraulic cylinder  161 , as shown in  FIG. 16 , can be lengthened or shortened to pivot around vertical axis  5  shown in  FIG. 9  as explained above. 
     After this has all been done and the post  122  is in the exact position above the post hole desired, for example in the  FIG. 9  position, hydraulic motor  181  is activated so that the wheels  182  and  183  move in a clockwise direction shown in  FIG. 15 , which will cause the post  122  to be moved downwardly because accordingly idler wheels  192  and  193  will rotate in a counterclockwise direction to hold the post  122  and essentially move in an opposite rotational direction, but in unison with wheels  182  and  183 . 
     If for any reason it is desired to pull the post  122  out of the hole or move it up for any reason, then the flow of hydraulic fluid in  181  is reversed in order to cause the wheels  182  and  183  to move in a counterclockwise direction as shown in  FIG. 15  which will of course, due to the friction of the post between the wheels  182  and  183  cause wheels  192  and  193  to turn in a clockwise direction at a similar speed as the post moves upwardly. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 14 , the button  213  is the button to control the hydraulic motor  181  for the up position. The button  214  is to control the hydraulic motor  181  for the down position. The button  215  is to control unclamping of the wheels and button  216  clamps the wheels  182 ,  183 ,  192 ,  193  against the post  122  via hydraulic cylinder  171   a . These buttons  213 - 216  operate electric over hydraulic valves  217   a  and  217   b  as those shown with hoses going there from in  FIG. 13 . Being more specific, the unit  217  activates electric over hydraulic valves  217   a  and  217   b  which controls the whole head of the post grasping and moving apparatus  200  as explained previously by using the motor and buttons  213  and  214  to turn the hydraulic motor  181  in one direction or the other to move the post up or down or buttons  215  and  216  to control clamping of the wheels by moving the hydraulic cylinder  171   a  in or out as shown in  FIG. 16  in solid and dashed lines. 
     Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. For example it is possible to use make vertical adjustments to a clamped post using the loader end of a skid loader or making vertical adjustments using a three point hitch on a tractor, but usually some tilting occurs when lifting of the post is done this way. But raising or lowering the post this way is considered to be within the scope of this invention. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.