Patent ID: 7731451

Claim:
A cover removal apparatus, comprising: a frame attachable to a vehicle; a first electromagnet coupled to a ram assembly, the ram assembly being supported by and moveable within the frame, so as to lower and raise the first electromagnet; a power source electrically coupled to the first electromagnet for selectively energizing the first electromagnet in order to electromagnetically couple with a cover; and a spring hammer apparatus attached to the frame via a mounting bracket, the apparatus comprising: a spring extending from a first end to a second end thereof; a first plate coupled to the first end of the spring; a second plate coupled to the second end of the spring, below the first plate; a rod coupled to the first plate and extending downward therefrom, the rod being slidingly received through an aperture formed in the second plate; and a second electromagnet positioned for electromagnetically coupling with the first plate and being electrically coupled to the power source; wherein the second plate is coupled to the first electromagnet so that, when the frame is attached to the vehicle, when the ram assembly lowers the first electromagnet over the cover, and when the second electromagnet is energized by the power source to couple with the first plate, the second plate is pulled away from the first plate, thereby stretching the spring; and when the second magnet is deenergized to release the first plate from the electromagnetic coupling, the spring contracts to send the rod into forceful engagement with the cover.