GB2248258A

GB2248258A - Post foot driver

Info

Publication number: GB2248258A
Application number: GB9020883A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Derek Bell
Original assignee: BELL MAINTENANCE ENGINEERING L
Current assignee: BELL MAINTENANCE ENGINEERING L
Priority date: 1990-09-25
Filing date: 1990-09-25
Publication date: 1992-04-01
Also published as: GB9020883D0

Abstract

A post foot driver comprises a rectangular section housing (1) with guide rails (2) at the corners, lower portions (2a) of which guide rails (2) project downwardly below a lower framework (3) of the housing (1) and can be inserted into the socket of a post foot. A plunger arrangement comprises a driving member (5) coupled by a shaft (6) to a cross handle (7), the shaft (6) projecting through a guide cap (8) welded to the upper end of the housing (1). In use vertical reciprocation of the cross handle (7) causes the driving member (5) to strike the inner bottom wall of the post foot to drive the latter into the ground. <IMAGE>

Description

POST FOOT DRIVER The invention relates to a post foot driver.

Post feet formed of metal are known comprising a socket to receive the lower end of a post and a downwardly extending spike to be driven into the ground to provide a firm support for the post socket and thus for the post. Such a post foot is normally driven into the ground by inserting a driving tool in the form of a stub post into the upper end of the socket and striking the upper face of the driving tool with a sledge hammer.This method has considerable disadvantages, particularly that, while it is possible to check with a spirit level whether or not the post socket is upright, the post socket even with the driving tool therein is so short, that it is difficult to check for upright by eye; overhead swinging space is required for the sledge hammer and this may not be available, particularly if the fence is provided beneath or adjacent trees or bushes; and it is difficult accurately to strike the driving tool when it is down close to ground level, that is to say when the post foot is practically fully driven.

According to the invention there is provided a post foot driver comprising an upright elongate cage or housing of rectangular section with an elongate guide rail in each of the four corners, the lower end of which guide rails are engageable in the corners of a post socket of a post foot to be driven, a driving member slidable between the guide rails, a drive shaft coupled to and extending from the driving member and projecting from the upper end of the cage or housing and a cross handle coupled to the drive shaft, the arrangement being such that by vertically reciprocating the driving member in the cage or housing by means of the cross handle and the drive shaft, the driving member can be caused to impact against a bottom wall of the post socket and thereby to cause the post foot to penetrate the ground.

Advantageously an upper portion of the cage or housing is formed as a closed box.

Preferably a sliding guide is provided on an upper wall of the cage or housing to guide sliding movement of the drive shaft therethrough.

The drive member advantageously has recesses in the outer edge thereof, preferably at corners thereof, to receive the guide rails and is preferably provided with cutaways in side faces thereof to provide clearance for inwardly projecting webs formed by louvres in the side walls of the post socket.

The combined weight of the driving member, the drive shaft and the cross handle is preferably several kilogrammes such that a significant driving force can be applied to the post foot.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing which is an exploded view of a post foot driver according to the invention.

Referring to the drawing a post foot driver comprises a lower housing 1 of rectangular section with an upright guide rail 2 at each of the four corners thereof, a surrounding framework 3 spaced upwardly from the lower end and sheet metal members 4 boxing in the sides of the housing but leaving portions 2a of the guide rails 2 projecting at the lower end.

An upper, plunger arrangement comprises a driving member 5, a vertical drive shaft 6 welded to the driving member 5 and a cross handle 7 welded to the upper end of the drive shaft 6. A cap 8 for the lower housing 1 has an aperture in an upper wall 9 thereof and a tubular guide 10 for the shaft 6 welded on the underside of the top wall 9 in alignment with the aperture therein.

The driving member 5 has a recess 11 at each of the corners thereof whereby the driving member 5 is slidable on the guide rails 2 within the lower housing 1 and in addition has, in two adjacent ones of the side faces, cutaway portions 12.

The post foot driver is assembled from the position shown by engaging the driving member 5 on the guide rails 2, engaging the cap 8 over the top of the housing 1 and welding the cap 8 to the housing 1.

The guide rails 2 may be for example of 10 irin square section and the spacing of the guide rails 2 is such that, upon insertion of the four projections 2a into the socket of a standard metal post foot of the kind sold under the Registered Trade Mark "Metpost" by Metpost Limited, Mardy Road, Cardiff CF3 8EQ, the projections 2a will be a sliding fit in the corners of the post socket of the post foot and just before the bottom ends of the projections 2a abut the bottom wall of the post socket, the framework 3 will abut the upper rim of the post socket.

The lower housing, including the projections 2a may for example be of 450 mm in length and the length of the drive shaft 6 may for example be of 500 mm in length such that upon reciprocating the drive shaft 6 and the driving member 5 by means of the cross handle 7, the lower face of the driving member 5 will be brought into engagement with the base wall of the post socket before the cross member 7 reaches the upper wall 9 of the housing cap 8. The driving member 5 thus can be caused to impact against the bottom wall of the post socket thereby to apply a driving force thereto which will drive the post foot into the ground.The combined weight of the driving member 5, drive shaft and cross handle 7 can be several kilogrammes and since this weight can be reciprocated over a stroke of approximately 400 mm, a considerable driving force can be imparted to the post foot. Also since the combined height of the lower housing 1 and drive shaft 6, when the driving member is in a raised position is approximately 900 mm, it can readily be seen by eye whether or not the driving tool is in an upright orientation and thus whether or not the post foot being driven is in an upright orientation. Corrections can be made for any deviation thereby ensuring that the post foot will be driven vertically into the ground.

The cutaway portion 12 provide clearance for webs projecting inwardly into the post foot socket due to louvres in the walls thereof on two sides. The sheet metal members 4 of the housing 1 are preferably formed of galvanized steel and the rails 2, the framework 3, the driving member 5, the shaft 6 and the cross handle 7 are preferably formed of mild steel.

For a three inch square post foot the spacing between the outer faces of adjacent ones of the guide rails 2 is preferably 78 mm, such spacing to be changed for post foot drivers intended to drive two inch or four inch post feet.

Claims

1. A post foot driver comprising an upright elongate cage or housing of rectangular section with an elongate guide rail in each of the four corners, the lower end of which guide rails are engageable in the corners of a post socket of a post foot to be driven, a driving member slidable between the guide rails, a drive shaft coupled to and extending from the driving member and projecting from the upper end of the cage or housing and a cross handle coupled to the drive shaft, the arrangement being such that by vertically reciprocating the driving member in the cage or housing by means of the cross handle and the drive shaft, the driving member can be caused to impact against a bottom wall of the post socket and thereby cause the post foot to penetrate the ground.

2. A post foot driver according to claim 1, in which an upper portion of the cage or housing is formed as a closed box.

3. A post foot driver according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which a sliding guide is provided on an upper wall of the cage or housing to guide sliding movement of the drive shaft therethrough.

4. A post foot driver according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the drive member has recesses in the outer edge thereof to receive the guide rails.

5. A post foot driver according to claim 4, in which the drive member has cutaways in side faces thereof to provide clearance for inwardly projecting webs formed by louvres in the side walls of the post socket.

6. A post foot driver according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the combined weight of the driving member, the drive shaft and the cross handle is several kilogrammes such that a significant driving force can be applied to the post foot.

7. A post foot driver substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawing.