AU2005219449B2 - An automated fence post inserter - Google Patents

Description

WO 2005/085565 PCT/AU2005/000277 An Automated Fence Post Inserter Field of the Invention 5 The present invention relates to an automated fence post inserter and an associated prime mover. The present invention in a preferred application has been developed primarily for use in driving steel fence posts into the ground and will be described hereinafter with 10 reference to this application. Background of the Invention Automated fence post inserters are known. Examples are disclosed in US Patent 15 Nos. 4915180 dated 10 April 1990 to Schisler, 5494117 dated 27 February 1996 to Aldridge and 6591919 dated 15 July 2003 to Herrmann. The Schisler patent discloses a very large and complicated device which gives the operator five degrees of motion for positioning a driving hammer in order to set posts in 20 various soil and terrain slopes. One disadvantage of this device is that it is very large and heavy and thus it must be carried by a correspondingly large prime mover. Such prime movers are expensive and also have limited manoeuvrability, particularly when fencing between rocks and trees are on uncleared ground. 25 The device disclosed in the Aldridge patent has a boom arrangement mounted to a tractor to pivot and extend from the side of the tractor. A hydraulic post driver is suspended from the boom by a wire-line. The main disadvantage of this device is that the suspended post driver relied on gravity and downward force applied by the operator to counteract its driving force, which is very tiring for the operator. Another disadvantage is 30 that the device also requires fine manoeuvring of the tractor to correctly position the post driver. The device also requires two people to operate, one to drive the tractor and the WO 2005/085565 PCT/AU2005/000277 -2 other to guide the post driver, which increases costs. Further, the post driver operator must simultaneously manually align and support the post driver whilst signalling the tractor operator to lower and activate the post driver which is difficult. 5 The Herrmann patent also discloses a very large and complicated device which is towed by a large tractor. The device suffers from similar disadvantages as were described in relation to Schisler patent. It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least 10 ameriolate one or more of the above prior art deficiencies. Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided, an automated 15 fence post inserter suitable for use with a prime mover, the fence inserter including: a main body which, in use is adapted to be mounted to the prime mover and includes an arm and a carrier mounted on the arm which is adapted for movement there along; a post driver which, in an operative position, is pivotally mounted on the carrier above its centre of gravity and is adapted for rotational movement relative to the carrier in response to gravity; 20 and carrier and driver actuators for the carrier and driver respectively. In one form the main body may be adapted to be movable so that can adopt a selected orientation in the operative position. Preferably the post driver is disposed in a substantially upright plane when in the operative position. The arm preferably extends 25 laterally of a generally upright axis when in the operative position. The main body may include an attachment section for mounting it to the prime mover the prime mover having an attachment section which is tiltable relative to the prime mover for enabling movement of the main body into the selected orientation. The orientation of the main body may be effected in other ways. For example it may be pivotally mounted to the vehicle. In use the 30 post driver is adapted to apply a force in response to the driver actuator.

WO 2005/085565 PCT/AU2005/000277 -3 The fence post inserter may further include carrier and driver operator controllers for the carrier and driver actuators respectively. The post driver may be adapted to provide a continuous downward force with or without a percussive force, at the operator's selection. 5 In one form the carrier actuator may include a hydraulic cylinder attached to each of the arm and the carrier. The inserter may include a bracket pivotally mounted on the carrier to which is mounted a hydraulic cylinder. The driver actuator may include a hydraulic cylinder having an end attached to the post driver. Preferably the carrier and 10 driver actuators are powered by a hydraulic system from the prime mover. Preferably the carrier and driver controllers are mounted on the inserter adjacent or near the post driver. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a prime mover including an attachment section which is tiltable towards and away from an end of the 15 prime mover in response to actuation of an attachment actuator and a fence post inserter as described above secured to the attachment section. In use an operator laterally positions the post driver above an un-driven post using the carrier control and then drives the post into the ground using the driver control. 20 It will be appreciated that the un-driven post is longitudinally positioned below the post driver prior to the above operations and also that the post driver is oriented substantially vertically in the lateral plane by tilting the attachment means relative to the pitch of the prime mover. 25 In use an operator uses the attachment means control to orient the post driver substantially vertically in the lateral plane by titling the attachment means relative to the pitch of the prime mover then laterally positions the post driver above an un-driven post using the carrier control and then drives the post into the ground using the driver control. 30 The prime mover is preferably a small or mini skid steer loader.

WO 2005/085565 PCT/AU2005/000277 -4 The attachment means actuator is preferably a hydraulic cylinder having two ends respectively attached to each of the attachment means and the prime mover. 5 In a third aspect, the present invention provides a method of inserting posts into the ground with an automated fence post inserter, the insert being adapted for carriage by a prime mover having an attachment means tiltable towards and away from an end of the prime mover and including: an arm adapted for mounting to the attachment means to extend laterally from the prime mover; a carrier mounted on the arm and adapted for 10 fore/aft slidable movement along the arm in response to actuation of a carrier actuator; and a post driver pivotally mounted on the carrier above its centre of gravity and adapted for rotational movement relative to the carrier in response to gravity, the post driver mounted being adapted for applying force in response to a driver actuator; the method comprising the steps of moving the carrier to laterally position the post driver above an un-driven post, 15 allowing the post driver to pivot and orient the post driver substantially vertically in the longitudinal plane and then actuating the driver to drive the post into the ground. In a fourth aspect the present invention provides a method of inserting posts into the ground with a prime mover, the prime mover including: an attachment means tiltable 20 towards and away from an end of the prime mover in response to actuation of an attachment means actuator; an arm adapted for mounting to the attachment means to extend laterally from the prime mover; a carrier mounted on the arm and adapted for fore/aft slidable movement along the arm in response to actuation of a carrier actuator; a post driver pivotally mounted on the carrier above its centre of gravity and adapted for 25 rotational movement relative to the bracket in response to gravity, the post driver mounted being adapted for applying force in response to a drive actuator; the method comprising the steps of tilting the attachment means relative to the pitch of the prime mover to orient the post driver substantially vertically in the lateral plane, allowing the post driver to pivot and orient the post driver substantially vertically in the longitudinal plane, laterally positioning 30 the post driver above an un-driven post using the carrier control and then driving the post into the ground using the driver control.

WO 2005/085565 PCT/AU2005/000277 -5 Brief Description of the Drawings Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example 5 only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of an embodiment of an automated fence post inserter according to the invention; 10 Fig.2 is a side view of the device shown in Figure 1; and Fig. 3 is a side view of a modification of the device shown in Figures 1 and 2. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments 15 Referring to the drawings, there is shown an automated fence post inserter 10. The inserter 10 has an attachment means in the form of a square section steel frame 12. The fume 12 has pin holes 14 (Fig.2) for 3 point linkage attachment and or a quick hitch plate 16 (Fig.3), which are well known in the art and used to releasably attach the inserter 10 to 20 a small or mini skid steer loader (not shown) or other similar small prime movers such as tractors. The attachment mechanism of the loader 43 can be tilted towards and away from the front of the loader, in the direction indicated by the double headed arrows 20. As used herein, the lateral plane is a plane extending across the front or rear face of the prime mover and the longitudinal plane is a plane extending along the longitudinal axis of the 25 prime mover. An arm 18 is connected to the attachment means 12 and arranged to extend laterally outward from the loader. As best seen in Fig. 1, the arm 18 has a generally C shaped cross-section and has a carrier 22 slidably mounted therein. 30 WO 2005/085565 PCT/AU2005/000277 -6 The arm 18 also has an actuator, in the form of a hydraulic cylinder 24 mounted therein which is connected between the arm 18 and the carrier 22. The cylinder 24 is controlled to drive the carrier fore and aft within the arm 18, as indicated by double headed arrow 26. 5 A pivot pin and bracket 28 extends from the carrier 22 which thereon mounts a hydraulic cylinder 38. Mounted on the cylinder shaft is a bracket 31 on which is mounted a hydraulic hammer 30. Hydraulic hammers are well known in the art. The pin 28 is mounted above the centre of gravity of the hydraulic hammer 30 and thus allows the 10 hammer to pivot under the influence of gravity in the directions indicated by the double headed arrow 11. The hydraulic hammer has a driving head 32 able to apply a continuous percussive and or continuous downward force at the operator's choice. The inserter 10 has a handle 34 which aids in the aligning of the drive head 32 15 vertically in a longitudinal plane over the post 40. The control leavers 36 which operate the cylinders 24 and 38 as well as the hammer 30 are mounted on a small arm 44 which is attached to the frame 12. The cylinders 24, 38 and the hammer 30 are all powered by the hydraulic system from the loader. 20 In use the loader is driven along a desired fence line and stopped where the operator wishes to longitudinally position a fence post 40. The operator then tilts the loader attachment mechanism, and thus the frame 12, relative to the pitch of the ground and thus the pitch of the loader until the hammer 30 is oriented substantially vertical in the lateral plane. Due to the location of the pin 28 relative to the hammer 30, gravity 25 automatically orients the hammer 30 substantially vertically in the longitudinal plane. The operator then uses the controls 36 to slide the carrier 22 fore and aft with respect to the arm 18 to the desired lateral position. The post 40 is then positioned below the driving head 32 of the hammer 30 and the control 36 is used to actuate the hammer 30 30 and cylinder 38 independent of each other to drive the post 40 into the ground as indicated by arrow 42.

WO 2005/085565 PCT/AU2005/000277 -7 A first advantage of the inserter 10 is that the hammer is supported be the loader (prime mover) and therefore dose not rely on any operator force to counteract its driving force. This greatly reduces operator effort and tiring. Second, only a single operator is 5 needed to operate the device as the controls 36 are mounted at arms length from the drive head 32, and advantageously placing the operator in close proximity to the post for accurate positioning. Further, the relatively light weight construction of the inserter 10 makes it suitable for carriage by small or mini skid steer loaders and tractors, which are less expensive and more manoeuvrable than larger tractors. 10 Although the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the invention may embodied in many other forms. 15 Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

Claims (14)

1. An automated fence post inserter suitable for use with a prime mover, the fence inserter including: 5 a main body which, in use is adapted to be mounted to the prime mover and includes an arm and a carrier mounted on the arm which is adapted for movement there along; a post driver which, in an operative position, is pivotally mounted on the carrier above its centre of gravity and is adapted for rotational movement relative to the carrier in 10 response to gravity; and carrier and driver actuators for the carrier and driver respectively.

2. A fence post inserter according to claim 1 wherein the main body is adapted to be movable so that can adopt a selected orientation in the operative position. 15

3. A fence post inserter according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the post driver is disposed in a substantially upright plane when in the operative position.

4. A fence post inserter according to any preceding claim wherein the arm extends 20 laterally of a generally upright axis when in the operative position.

5. A fence post inserter according to any preceding claim wherein the main body includes an attachment section for mounting it to the prime mover the prime mover having an attachment section which is tiltable relative to the prime mover for enabling movement 25 of the main body into the selected orientation.

6. A fence post inserter according to any preceding claim further including carrier and driver operator controllers for the carrier and driver actuators respectively. P:\WPDOCS\ARS\SPECIE\12526041 M J Horvth IstSPA doc-3/06/2009 -9

7. A fence post inserter according to any preceding claim wherein the post driver is adapted to provide a continuous downward force with or without a percussive force, at the operator's selection. 5

8. A fence post inserter according to any preceding claim wherein the carrier actuator is a hydraulic cylinder attached to each of the arm and the carrier.

9. A fence post inserter according to any preceding claim wherein the inserter includes a bracket pivotally mounted on the carrier to which is mounted a hydraulic 10 cylinder.

10. A fence post inserter according to any preceding claim wherein the driver actuator is a hydraulic cylinder having an end attached to the post driver. 15

11. A fence post inserter according to any preceding claim wherein the carrier and driver actuators are powered by a hydraulic system from the prime mover.

12. A fence post inserter according to any preceding claims wherein the carrier and driver controllers are mounted on the inserter adjacent or near the post driver. 20

13. A prime mover including an attachment section which is tiltable towards and away from an end of the prime mover in response to actuation of an attachment actuator and a fence post inserter according to any preceding claim secured to the attachment section. 25

14. A fence post inserter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.