Abstract:
The excavator hammer attachment apparatus is adapted to be quickly attached to an excavator or skid-steer loader arm and used in easily and quickly demolishing concrete by swinging the apparatus and striking the concrete. Because the apparatus employs rubber isolators instead metal springs, such demolition is able to be accomplished with less noise and shock to the machine to which it is attached than would otherwise occur and with substantially improved operator safety.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to excavator or the like attachment apparatuses, and in particular, to large scale hammer type excavator attachment apparatuses, adapted to mount to an excavator arm. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Excavators and like equipment are well known and broadly used in the excavation and construction industry. Such excavators typically have a hydraulically operated mechanical arm consisting of a boom portion, a stick or dipper arm portion, and a bucket portion (see appx A—Excavator). A sub-category of excavators is the backhoe which is also well known and broadly used in the excavation and construction industry (see appx B—Backhoe). Further, the skid-steer type loader or machine is also well known and broadly used in the excavation and construction industry (see appx C—Skid-Steer). Also, quick couplers of the type that are adapted to quickly connect and disconnect attachments to excavators and like equipment are well known and broadly used in the excavation and construction industry (see appx D—Quick Coupler). Use of such excavators and skid-steers continues to broaden beyond mere digging, with excavators taking on task previously not contemplated. An example of such broadened use is the use of the excavator arm as a quasi-wrecking ball to for instance break-up concrete structures that are to be replaced. In comparison to a wrecking ball, the dual or multi-use of the conventional excavator arm (with a bucket) as a quasi-wrecking ball is not only convenient, but has advantages in greater strike placement control, angle, and accuracy. However, the conventional excavator arm remains a blunt non-finely controlled instrument. Further, such use of the excavator arm as a quasi-wrecking ball has in certain circumstances been shown to have the disadvantages of insufficient concentrated bucket mass and consequent bucket damage. Some attempts have been made to improve demolition type attachments and related quick couplers for excavator type equipment. Such efforts include the concepts disclosed in the following US patents and applications which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety: U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,852 to Maurer entitled “Quick Coupling and Release Mechanism for Buckets”, U.S. Pat. No. 4,466,494 to Hanson entitled “Implement with Gripping Arm Assembly for a Backhoe”, U.S. Pat. No. 4,719,975 to LaBounty entitled “Rotating Hammer-Shear”, U.S. Pat. No. 4,881,867 to Essex et al. entitled “Excavator Attachment”, U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,641 to Kendall entitled “Backhoe Hammer”, U.S. Pat. No. 4,906,049 to Anderson entitled “Ripper Using a Hydraulic Hammer and Method for Making the Improvement”, U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,639 to Lindsey at al. entitled “Demolition Hammer”, U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,528 to Jenkins et al. entitled “Quick Coupling Arrangement for Excavator Buckets and the Like”, U.S. Pat. No. 6,332,747 to Lee entitled “Coupling Apparatus for Detachably Attaching an Excavating Device to Excavator”, U.S. Pat. No. 6,517,164 to White entitled “Hammer-Ripper Excavating System”, and 20030173095 to Boley et al. entitled “Implement for Driving Posts”. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The present invention is an excavator hammer attachment apparatus (EHAA) (see for instance appx E—B. E. Hammers Website). It shall be noted that for the purposes of this application, unless specifically defined otherwise, the word excavator shall be understood to broadly include excavators, trackhoes, diggers, backhoes, rear actor, back actor, skid-steer, skid-loader, and like machines. Specifically, the EHAA preferably replaces a bucket at the non-boom end of a stick (or dipper arm) and is used in a variety of large scale hammering operations (see for instance appx F—Trackhoe Attachment). The EHAA alternatively may be attached to a skid-steer and used in a variety of large scale hammering operations (see for instance appx G—Skid-Steer Attachment). The EHAA further may be mounted or attached to via a quick coupler. The EHAA incorporates minimal moving parts to reduce cost and complexity and to increase reliability of the apparatus. Further, rather than using springs which are heavy, noisy, and are dangerous when failing catastrophically (e.g. a piece of broken spring under load may fly away from the apparatus and strike an equipment operator or other person), the EHAA incorporates rubber isolators. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    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: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a substantially trimetric view of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a substantially exploded trimetric view of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a substantially trimetric view of a first embodiment of the present invention with dashed lines representing movement of the invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a substantially trimetric view of a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a substantially exploded trimetric view of a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  is a substantially trimetric view of a first embodiment of the present invention with dashed lines representing movement of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    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. 
         [0012]    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 included to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can 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. 
         [0013]    In order to facilitate the understanding of the present invention in reviewing the drawings accompanying the specification, a feature list is provided below. It is noted that like features are like numbered throughout all of the figures. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 FEATURE TABLE 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 # 
                 Feature 
                 # 
                 Feature 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 10 
                 EHAA 
                   
                   
               
               
                 20 
                 Hammer 
                  20A 
                 Hammer (in rotated position) 
               
               
                 22 
                 Hammer head 
                  24 
                 Hammer handle 
               
               
                 26 
                 Pin reception race 
                  28 
                 Attach flange 
               
               
                 30 
                 Mounting bracket 
                  32 
                 End flange 
               
               
                 34 
                 Top flange 
                  36 
                 Pin reception flanges 
               
               
                 40 
                 Isolators 
                  42 
                 Isolator front side 
               
               
                 44 
                 Isolator rear side 
               
               
                 50 
                 Hinge pin 
                  60 
                 Pin retention collars 
               
               
                 80 
                 EHAA 
               
               
                 90 
                 Hammer 
                  90A 
                 Hammer (in rotated position) 
               
               
                 100 
                 Handle assembly 
                 102 
                 Handle 
               
               
                 104 
                 Sleeve reception opening 
                 106 
                 Pin reception race 
               
               
                 108 
                 Gusset 
                 110 
                 Gusset 
               
               
                 120 
                 Head assembly 
                 122 
                 Hammer head 
               
               
                 124 
                 Sleeve 
               
               
                 130 
                 Mounting frame 
                 132 
                 Base 
               
               
                 134 
                 Foot 
                 136 
                 Foot 
               
               
                 138 
                 Screen 
                 140 
                 Attach flange 
               
               
                 142 
                 Pin reception hole 
                 144 
                 Attach flange 
               
               
                 146 
                 Pin reception hole 
               
               
                 150 
                 Isolators 
                 152 
                 Isolator outboard side 
               
               
                 154 
                 Isolator inboard side 
               
               
                 160 
                 Hinge pin 
                 170 
                 Pin retention collars 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0014]    Referring now to the drawings and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , a first embodiment of the invention is an excavator hammer apparatus (EHAA)  10  expressly adapted for mounting to an excavator arm comprising a hammer  20 , a mounting bracket  30 , isolators  40 , a hinge pin  50 , and a pin retention collars  60 . Hammer  20  preferably defines a single steel weldment (multiple discrete components or pieces welded together to form a single welded structure) hammer having a hammer head  22 , a hammer handle  24 , a pin reception race  26 , and an attachment flange  28 . Hammer head  22  is welded to a first end of hammer handle  24 , attachment flange  28  is welded to a second end of hammer handle  24 , and pin reception race  26  is welded to hammer handle  24  near the second end of hammer handle  24 . Hammer head  22  preferably defines a generally cylindrically shaped head preferably having a diameter of approximately 8 inches, a length of approximately 18 inches, and a mass of approximately 200 pounds, but may be larger and have a greater mass or may be smaller and have a lesser mass. Hammer handle  24  preferably defines a generally elongated cubic shaped handle preferably having a width of approximately 3 inches, a height of approximately 6 inches, a length of approximately 52 inches, and a mass of approximately 250 pounds, but may be larger and have a greater mass or may be smaller and have a lesser mass. Mounting bracket  30  preferably defines a single steel weldment bracket forming a general “L” shape having an end flange  32 , a top flange  34 , and pin reception flanges  36 . End flange  32  is welded to top flange  34  and pin reception flanges  36  are welded to top flange  34 . Isolators  40  define substantially cubic shaped blocks preferably formed of rubber or like durable elastomeric material, having front sides  42  and rear sides  44 . Hinge pin  50  defines a substantially cylindrical shaped steel hinge pin. Pin retention collars  60  define preferably steel collars capable of securing a hinge pin such that the pin is able to rotate but remains fixed in an axial or side-to-side direction. 
         [0015]    EHAA  10  is assembled such that front sides  42  of isolators  40  are fastened to attachment flange  28  of hammer  20 , rear sides  44  of isolators  40  are fastened to end flange  32  of mounting bracket  30 , hinge pin  50  is rotatably inserted into pin reception flanges  36  of mounting bracket  30  and pin reception race  26  of hammer  20 , and pin retention collars  60  are secured to the ends of hinge pin  50  such that EHAA  10  is capable of controlled rotation or pivoting of hammer  20  relative to mounting bracket  30  about hinge pin  50  by means of flexure of isolators  40  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0016]    In practice, EHAA  10  is mounted to an excavator arm (e.g. in place of a convention bucket of an excavator) by fastening top flange  34  of mounting bracket  30  to the excavator arm. It is noted that a quick coupler may be optionally used in mounting EHAA  10  to an excavator arm. It is further noted that EHAA  10  is preferably used in combination with an excavator of approximately 11,000 pounds and having an engine of approximately 42 horsepower, but may be used with a large or smaller excavator. Further in practice, with EHAA  10  mounted to an excavator arm, EHAA  10  is wielded by the arm of the excavator (somewhat similar to a man wielding a sledge hammer) to breakup concrete, to drive piles, and to perform other generally large scale hammering operations. It is noted that flexure of isolators  40  allows controlled rotation of hammer  20  such that hammer  20  may be moved by the excavator arm to just short of the target (e.g. concrete to be broken), and by means of kinetic energy, hammer  20  will rotate in a controlled method and strike the target and demolish the target. It is further noted that such hammering is able to be performed with minimal shock to the excavator (and consequently the excavator operator), with reduced noise, and without the danger of pieces of broken spring becoming projectiles and causing injury. It is further noted that given the length of hammer handle  24 , not only is accurate hammering able to be performed with minimal risk of damage to the excavator, but significant mechanical advantage is realized when swinging EHAA  10 . 
         [0017]    Referring now to the drawings and in particular to  FIGS. 4 through 6 , a second embodiment of the invention is an excavator hammer apparatus (EHAA)  80  expressly adapted for mounting to a skid-steer loader arm comprising a hammer  90 , a mounting frame  130 , isolators  150 , a hinge pin  160 , and a pin retention collars  170 . Hammer  90  preferably defines a mechanical assembly of handle assembly  100  and head assembly  120 . Handle assembly  100  preferably defines a single steel weldment having a handle  102  having a sleeve reception opening  104  on a first end, a pin reception race  106 , a gusset  108 , and a gusset  110 . Gusset  108  is welded to a first side of handle  102 , gusset  110  is welded to a second side of handle  102 , and pin reception race  106  is welded to handle  102  near a second end of handle  102 . Head assembly  120  preferably defines a single steel weldment having a hammer head  122  and a sleeve  124 . Sleeve  124  is welded to a first side of head  122 . Hammer  90  is assembled such that sleeve  124  of head assembly  120  is fastened to sleeve reception opening  104  of handle assembly  100 . It is noted that EHAA  80  is adapted such that various heads of various size, shape and mass may be substituted for head assembly  120 . Hammer head  122  preferably defines a generally cylindrically shaped head preferably having a diameter of approximately 8 inches, a length of approximately 18 inches, and a mass of approximately 200 pounds, but may be larger and have a greater mass or may be smaller and have a lesser mass. Hammer handle  102  preferably defines a generally elongated cubic shaped handle preferably having a width of approximately 3 inches, a height of approximately 6 inches, a length of approximately 52 inches, and a mass of approximately 250 pounds, but may be larger and have a greater mass or may be smaller and have a lesser mass. Mounting frame  130  preferably defines a single steel weldment frame having a base  132  having a first foot  134  and a second foot  136 , a screen  138 , an attach flange  140  having a pin reception hole  142 , and an attach flange  144  having a pin reception hole  146 . Screen  138 , attach flange  140 , and attach flange  144  are welded to base  132 . Isolators  150  define generally flanged cylindrical shaped blocks preferably formed of rubber or like durable elastomeric material, having outboard sides  152  and inboard sides  154 . Hinge pin  160  defines a substantially cylindrical shaped steel hinge pin. Pin retention collars  170  define preferably steel collars capable of securing a hinge pin such that the pin is able to rotate but remains fixed in an axial or side-to-side direction. 
         [0018]    EHAA  80  is assembled such that inboard sides  154  of a first pair of isolators  150  are fastened to a gusset  108  of hammer  90 , inboard sides  154  of a second pair of isolators  150  are fastened to a gusset  110  of hammer  90 , outboard sides  152  of a first pair of isolators  150  are fastened to attach flange  140  of mounting frame  130 , outboard sides  152  of a second pair of isolators  150  are fastened to attach flange  144  of mounting frame  130 , hinge pin  160  is rotatably inserted into pin reception holes  142  and  146  of mounting frame  130  and pin reception race  106  of hammer  90 , and pin retention collars  170  are secured to the ends of hinge pin  1650  such that EHAA  810  is capable of controlled rotation or pivoting of hammer  90  relative to mounting frame  130  about hinge pin  1650  by means of flexure of isolators  150  as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0019]    In practice, EHAA  80  is mounted to a skid-steer loader arm (e.g. in place of a convention bucket of a skid-steer loader) by fastening base  132  of mounting frame  130  to the skid-steer loader arm. It is noted that a quick coupler may be optionally used in mounting EHAA  80  to a skid-steer loader arm. It is further noted that EHAA  80  is preferably used in combination with a skid-steer loader of approximately 6,000 pounds and having an engine of approximately 35 horsepower, but may be used with a large or smaller a skid-steer loader. Further in practice, with EHAA  80  mounted to a skid-steer loader, EHAA  80  is wielded by the arm of the skid-steer loader (somewhat similar to a man wielding a sledge hammer) to breakup concrete, to drive piles, and to perform other generally large scale hammering operations. It is noted that flexure of isolators  150  allows controlled rotation of hammer  90  such that hammer  90  may be moved by the a skid-steer loader arm to just short of the target (e.g. concrete to be broken), and by means of kinetic energy, hammer  90  will rotate in a controlled method and strike the target and demolish the target. It is further noted that such hammering, especially in light of screen  138 , is able to be performed with minimal shock to the excavator (and consequently the excavator operator), with reduced noise, and without the danger of pieces of broken spring becoming projectiles and causing injury. It is further noted that given the length of hammer handle  102 , not only is accurate hammering able to be performed with minimal risk of damage to the excavator, but significant mechanical advantage is realized when swinging EHAA  80 . 
         [0020]    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.