Power driven hammer

Abstract

A power hammer apparatus including a cart and a power hammer arrangement mounted at a front region of the cart. The power hammer arrangement including a reciprocating bit that contacts a working surface to break up the working surface as the power hammer is advanced by the power-driven cart.

1 . A power hammer apparatus, comprising: 
 a) a power-driven cart having a front region and a rear region, the cart including controls located at the rear region of the cart for driving the cart along a working surface; and    b) a power hammer mounted at the front region of the power-driven cart, the power hammer including a reciprocating bit that contacts the working surface during operation of the power hammer apparatus.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the power hammer is a hand-held power hammer mounted at the front region of the power-driven cart.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the hand-held power hammer includes a housing having a handle portion and an operating switch for use of the power hammer independent of the cart.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the hand-held power hammer is an electrical power hammer, the operating switch being electrically connected to a power cord.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the power hammer is pivotally mounted at the front region of the power-driven cart.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the bit of the power hammer is selectively oriented at an angle of between about 30 degrees and 60 degrees relative to the working surface.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further including a detachable mounting bracket arrangement configured to pivotally mount the power hammer at the front region of the power-driven cart.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the detachable mounting bracket arrangement includes first and second primary arms that couple to the power hammer at a pivot location.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the detachable mounting bracket arrangement further includes a collet that couples around a nose portion of the power hammer.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the detachable mounting bracket arrangement includes secondary arms, the collet being pivotally connected to the secondary arms of the detachable mounting bracket arrangement.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including wheels attached to the power-driven cart, the wheels being located rearward of a center fulcrum of the power-driven cart so that a portion of the cart's weight provides a downward force on the bit of the power hammer.  
   
   
       12 . A method of breaking up a working surface, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) coupling a hand-held power hammer to a power-driven cart;    b) angling the hand-held power hammer in a selected angular orientation relative to a working surface;    c) securing the hand-held power hammer in the selected angular orientation; and    d) advancing the power hammer along the working surface with the power-driven cart while operating the secured power hammer, wherein a reciprocating bit of the power hammer contacts the working surface to break up the working surface as the hand-held power hammer is advanced by the power-driven cart.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of operating the power hammer includes switching on a switch of the power hammer, the switch being electrically connected to a power cord.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of angling the hand-held power hammer includes angling the power hammer at an angle of between about 30 degrees and 60 degrees relative to the working surface.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of coupling the hand-held power hammer includes pivotally mounting the hand-held power hammer to a mounting bracket arrangement, and further detachably mounting the mounting bracket arrangement to the power-driven cart.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of securing the hand-held power hammer in the selected angular orientation includes securing the power hammer at one of a plurality of pivot location defined by the mounting bracket arrangement.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of pivotally mounting the hand-held power hammer to the mounting bracket includes positioning a pivoting collet about a nose portion of the power hammer.  
   
   
       18 . A method of breaking up a working surface, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a power-driven cart having a front region and a rear region, the power-driven cart further including mechanically-driven wheels and operating controls that control the drive of the mechanically-driven wheels, the operating controls being located at the rear region of the cart;    b) providing a power hammer mounted at the front region of the cart;    c) securing the power hammer in a selected angular orientation relative to a working surface; and    d) advancing the power hammer along the working surface with the power-driven cart while operating the secured power hammer, wherein a reciprocating bit of the power hammer contacts the working surface to break up the working surface as the power hammer is advanced by the power-driven cart.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , further including operating the power hammer independent of the cart.