Base for use with a pole puller

Abstract

A base ( 108 ) for supporting a pole puller ( 110 ) utilized to manipulate a pole ( 186 ) includes first and second bearing arms ( 112, 114 ) configured to rest on a surface ( 60 ) with the pole ( 186 ) located between the first and second bearing arms ( 112, 114 ). A cross member ( 128 ) interconnects the first and second bearing arms ( 112, 114 ) and a housing ( 138 ) extends from the cross member ( 128 ) into which the pole puller ( 110 ) is seated. A flexible member ( 62 ) coupled to a ram ( 174 ) of the pole puller ( 110 ) encircles the pole ( 186 ). An upward force ( 72 ) is imposed on the flexible member ( 62 ) via the ram ( 174 ) to extract the pole ( 186 ) from a fixed, upright position in the ground ( 60 ). The support provided by the base ( 108 ) prevents the pole puller ( 110 ) from kicking into the ground as the upward force ( 72 ) is imposed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A base for supporting a pole puller utilized to manipulate a pole, said base comprising: 
 a first bearing arm;    a second bearing arm in spaced-apart relation with said first bearing arm, said first and second bearing arms being configured to rest on a surface with said pole located between said first and second bearing arms;    a cross member interconnecting said first and second arms; and    a housing extending from said cross member, said housing being configured to support a body of said pole puller.    
     
     
         2 . A base as claimed in  claim 1  wherein: 
 each of said first and second bearing arms has a front end and a rear end; and  
 said base further comprises a rear support extending between and coupled to each of said first and second bearing arms at said rear end.  
 
     
     
         3 . A base as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each of said bearing arms is a U-channel having upwardly directed legs.  
     
     
         4 . A base as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a strut coupled to each of said housing and said first bearing arm.  
     
     
         5 . A base as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said strut is a first strut, and said base further comprises a second strut coupled to each of said housing and said second bearing arm.  
     
     
         6 . A base as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said housing has a top end, said first bearing arm has a front end, said strut is attached to said housing at said top end, and said angle brace is attached to said first bearing arm at said front end.  
     
     
         7 . A base as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said first bearing arm includes a brace arranged transverse to a longitudinal dimension of said first bearing arm, said strut being coupled to said brace.  
     
     
         8 . A base as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising ring members extending from a top surface of said first and second bearing arms for attachment of a hoist mechanism for facilitating placement of said base.  
     
     
         9 . A base as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said cross member comprises an attachment interface configured for attachment of said pole puller to said cross member.  
     
     
         10 . A base as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said pole puller includes a first and a second bracket extending from a bottom of said pole puller, and said attachment interface comprises a horizontally disposed shaft configured to enable said bottom of said pole puller to be seated upon said shaft such that said first and second brackets reside on opposing surfaces of said shaft relative to a width of said shaft.  
     
     
         11 . A base as claimed in  claim 9  further comprising a pin member configured to be directed through a first hole in said first bracket, beneath said horizontally disposed shaft, and through a second hole in said second bracket.  
     
     
         12 . A base as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said body of said pole puller is generally cylindrically-shaped, and said housing is an arcuate member configured to conform to said cylindrically-shaped body.  
     
     
         13 . A base as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said housing is configured to partially surround said body of said pole puller at a pole-facing side of said pole puller.  
     
     
         14 . A system for manipulating a pole comprising: 
 a pole puller having a generally-cylindrical body and a ram extendable from a top of said body; and    a base for supporting said pole puller, said base including: 
 a first bearing arm:  
 a second bearing arm in spaced-apart relation with said first bearing arm, said first and second bearing arms being configured to rest on a surface with said pole located between said first and second bearing arms;  
 a cross member interconnecting said first and second arms; and  
 an arcuate housing extending from said cross member and partially surrounding said body at a pole-facing side of said body, said arcuate housing conforming to said cylindrically-shaped body.  
   
     
     
         15 . A system as claimed in  claim 14  further comprising: 
 a first strut coupled to a top end of said housing and a first front end of said first bearing arm; and  
 a second strut coupled to said top end of said housing and a second front end of said second bearing arm.  
 
     
     
         16 . A system as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said cross member comprises an attachment interface to which said pole puller is attached.  
     
     
         17 . A system as claimed in  claim 16  wherein: 
 said pole puller includes a first and a second bracket extending from a bottom of said pole puller;  
 said attachment interface comprises a horizontally disposed shaft onto which said bottom of said pole puller is seated such that said first and second brackets reside on opposing surfaces of said shaft relative to a width of said shaft; and  
 said base further comprises a pin member directed through a first hole in said first bracket, beneath said horizontally disposed shaft, and through a second hole in said second bracket.  
 
     
     
         18 . A system as claimed in  claim 14  further comprising: 
 a flexible member coupled to said ram of said pole puller; and  
 a pole bridle including plates configured for placement in spaced-relation about said pole, and retaining members coupled to an outer surface of said plates, said retaining members being configured to retain said flexible member in encircling-relation about said pole wherein an upward force imposed on said flexible member via said ram creates a transverse force on said plates to direct said plates against said pole.  
 
     
     
         19 . A method for manipulating a pole utilizing a pole pulling system that includes a pole puller having a body and a ram extendable from a top of said body, a base for supporting said pole puller, a flexible member coupled to said ram of said pole puller, and a pole bridle, said method comprising: 
 placing said base on a surface with said pole being located between first and second bearing arms of said base;    encircling said pole with plates of said pole bridle;    retaining said flexible member in encircling-relation about said pole via retaining members coupled to an outer surface of each of said plates;    actuating said ram to impose an upward force on said flexible member thereby creating a transverse force on said plates to facilitate manipulation of said pole.    
     
     
         20 . A method as claimed in  claim 19  wherein said pole is sheared proximate said surface with a butt of said pole remaining below said surface, and said method further comprises excavating surface material proximate said butt so that said encircling occurs below said surface, and said actuating operation causes said sheared pole to be pulled.