Self-propelled post driving apparatus

Abstract

A self-propelled post driving apparatus includes a frame; a post driving mechanism including a post stabilizer and a post ram; a stabilizer and ram control assembly; a driving assembly including a first driving wheel; a second driving wheel; a first wheel driving assembly for driving the first driving wheel; a second wheel driving assembly for driving the second driving wheel; a power assembly including at least one machine for supplying power to at least one of the post driving mechanism, the first driving wheel and the second driving wheel; and a driving control assembly for selectively applying power to at least one of the first driving assembly and the second driving assembly for at least one of individual and simultaneous operation of the first driving wheel and the second driving wheel for selective directional movement of the post driving apparatus for selectively positioning the apparatus at a post driving location.

1 . A self-propelled post driving apparatus comprising:
 a frame;   a post driving mechanism mounted to the frame including:
 a post stabilizer; and 
 a post ram, 
   a stabilizer and ram control assembly for controlling operational movement of the post stabilizer and the post ram;   a driving assembly including:
 a first driving wheel mounted to the frame at a first position; 
 a second driving wheel mounted to the frame at a second position oppositely from the first driving wheel; 
 a first wheel driving assembly for driving the first driving wheel; 
 a second wheel driving assembly for driving the second driving wheel; 
   a power assembly including at least one machine for supplying power to at least one of the post driving mechanism, the first driving wheel and the second driving wheel; and   a driving control assembly for selectively applying propulsion power to at least one of the first driving assembly and the second driving assembly for at least one of individual and simultaneous operation of the first driving wheel and the second driving wheel for selective directional movement of the post driving apparatus for selectively positioning the post driving mechanism at a post driving location.   
   
   
       2 . A self-propelled post driving apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the power assembly includes a liquid-fuel engine. 
   
   
       3 . A self-propelled post driving apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the power assembly includes a working fluid compressor and fluid distribution system operatively associated therewith, the compressor being operatively associated with the liquid-fuel engine. 
   
   
       4 . A self-propelled post driving apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein the first driving assembly includes a first fluid-driven motor operatively associated with the first driving wheel and the second driving assembly includes a second fluid-driven motor operatively associated with the second driving wheel for applying propulsion power to at least one of the first driving wheel and the second driving wheel, and wherein the first driving assembly and the second driving assembly are each operatively associated with the compressor using the fluid distribution system for applying propulsion power to the first driving assembly and the second driving assembly. 
   
   
       5 . A self-propelled post driving apparatus according to  claim 1  and further comprising an assembly for selectively engaging said first driving wheel and sand second driving wheel from said power assembly, thereby allowing selective free rotation of said first driving wheel and said second driving wheel. 
   
   
       6 . A self-propelled post driving apparatus according to  claim 4  wherein the first fluid-driven motor and the second fluid-driven motor are each formed as a hydraulic motor and the working fluid compressor is a hydraulic compressor. 
   
   
       7 . A self-propelled post driving apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the first driving assembly includes a first motor operatively associated with the first driving wheel for propulsion thereof and the second driving assembly includes a second motor operatively associated with the second driving wheel for propulsion thereof. 
   
   
       8 . A self-propelled post driving apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the first driving assembly includes a first fluid-driven motor operatively associated with the first driving wheel and the second driving assembly includes a second fluid-driven motor operatively associated with the second driving wheel for applying driving power to at least one of the first driving wheel and the second driving wheel. 
   
   
       9 . A self-propelled post driving apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the power assembly includes a liquid-fuel engine, a working fluid compressor and fluid distribution system operatively associated therewith, the compressor being operatively associated with the liquid-fuel engine, wherein the first driving assembly and the second driving assembly are each operatively associated with the compressor using the fluid distribution system for applying propulsion power to the first driving assembly and the second driving assembly. 
   
   
       10 . A self-propelled post driving apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the stabilizer and ram control assembly is operatively associated with the compressor using the fluid distribution system for applying power selectively to the post stabilizer and the post ram. 
   
   
       11 . A self-propelled post driving apparatus according to  claim 1  and further comprising an assembly for extending the ram laterally away from the frame and a control assembly associated with the ram extending assembly for selectively moving the ram laterally away from the frame. 
   
   
       12 . A self-propelled post driving apparatus comprising:
 a frame;   a post driving mechanism mounted to the frame including:
 a post stabilizer; and 
 a post ram, 
   a stabilizer and ram control assembly for controlling operational movement of the post stabilizer and the post ram; and   a propulsion assembly including:
 at least one apparatus mounted to the frame for propelling the post driving apparatus along a support surface; and 
 a zero turning radius control assembly for controlling the apparatus during movement thereof including at least two drive wheels, with the drive wheels being selectively individually drivable in either direction of rotation to attain zero turning radius movement for selectively positioning the post driving mechanism at a post driving location. 
   
   
   
       13 . A self-propelled post driving apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein the propulsion assembly includes a power assembly including at least one machine for supplying power to at least one of the post driving mechanism and the at least two drive wheels. 
   
   
       14 . A self-propelled post driving apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein the power assembly includes a liquid-fuel engine. 
   
   
       15 . A self-propelled post driving apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the power assembly includes a working fluid compressor and fluid distribution system operatively associated therewith, the compressor being operatively associated with the liquid-fuel engine. 
   
   
       16 . A self-propelled post driving apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein the propulsion assembly includes a first driving assembly for driving the first driving wheel; a second driving assembly for driving the second driving wheel; and a power assembly including at least one machine for supplying power to at least one of the post driving mechanism, the first driving wheel and the second driving wheel. 
   
   
       17 . A self-propelled post driving apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the zero turning radius assembly includes a driving control assembly for selecting at least one of the first driving assembly and the second driving assembly for at least one of individual and simultaneous operation of the first driving wheel and the second driving wheel for selective directional movement of the post driving apparatus for selectively positioning the post driving mechanism at a post driving location. 
   
   
       18 . A self-propelled post driving apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the first driving assembly includes a first fluid-driven motor operatively associated with the first drive wheel and the second driving assembly includes a second fluid-driven motor operatively associated with the second drive wheel for applying propulsive power to at least one of the first driving wheel and the second driving wheel. 
   
   
       19 . A self-propelled post driving apparatus according to  claim 17  wherein the first fluid-driven motor and the second fluid-driven motor are each formed as a hydraulic motor and the working fluid compressor is a hydraulic compressor. 
   
   
       20 . A self-propelled post driving apparatus according to  claim 12  and further comprising an assembly for extending the ram laterally away from the frame and a control assembly associated with the ram extending assembly for selectively moving the ram laterally away from the frame. 
   
   
       21 . A self-propelled post driving apparatus according to  claim 1  and further comprising an assembly for selectively engaging and disengaging said first driving wheel and said second driving wheel from said at least one apparatus mounted to the frame for propelling the post driving apparatus along a support surface, thereby allowing selective free rotation of said first driving wheel and said second driving wheel. 
   
   
       22 . A method for driving a post into the ground comprising the steps of
 providing a self-propelled post driving apparatus including:
 a post stabilizer; 
 a post ram; 
 a stabilizer and ram control assembly for controlling operational movement of the post stabilizer and the post ram; and 
 a propulsion assembly including:
 an apparatus mounted to the frame for propelling the post driving apparatus along a support surface; 
 a zero turning radius control assembly for controlling the apparatus during movement thereof including at least two drive wheels, with the drive wheels being selectively individually drivable in either direction of rotation to attain zero turning radius movement; and 
 an assembly for selectively engaging and disengaging said first driving wheel and said second driving wheel from said apparatus mounted to the frame for propelling the post driving apparatus along a support surface; 
 
   determining a post driving location;   maneuvering the post driving apparatus using the control assembly to selectively operate the wheels assemblies individually, simultaneously or both to position the post ram over the predetermined location;   removing a post from the post magazine;   positioning the post over the predetermined driving location;   stabilizing the post using the stabilizer arms; and   ramming the post into the ground using the control assembly to selectively operate the ram to repeatedly pound the post into the ground at the predetermined location.   
   
   
       23 . A method for driving a post according to  claim 22  and further comprising the steps of:
 providing a post driving apparatus having an assembly for extending the ram laterally away from the frame and a control assembly associated with the ram extending assembly for moving the ram laterally away from the frame; and   moving the ram laterally away from the frame a predetermined distance using the ram extending control assembly.   
   
   
       24 . A self-propelled service implement comprising:
 a frame;   a primary work apparatus mounted to said frame;   a propulsion assembly including:
 at least one apparatus mounted to the frame for propelling the post driving apparatus along a support surface; 
 a zero turning radius control assembly for controlling the apparatus during movement thereof including a first driving wheel and a second driving wheel, with the first driving wheel and the second driving wheel being selectively individually drivable in either direction of rotation to attain zero turning radius movement for selectively positioning the post driving mechanism at a post driving location; and 
   an assembly for selectively engaging and disengaging said first driving wheel and said second driving wheel from said at least one apparatus mounted to the frame for propelling the post driving apparatus along a support surface, thereby allowing selective free rotation of said first driving wheel and said second driving wheel.