Method and apparatus for installing a shank within a ripper assembly of a tractor/crawler involving a rotating shank installer

Abstract

An apparatus and method of installing a shank onto a ripper assembly of a tractor or crawler. A rotating shank installer (RSI) is welded onto a front face of a ripper assembly of a tractor, e.g., on the outside surface of a pocket beam. A portion of the RSI is allowed to rotate with respect to the pocket beam. With the shank in a substantially horizontal position with respect to the ground, the shank is secured between two plates of the RSI using pins wherein the plates can rotate with respect to the pocket beam. The shank is locked in place by two pins placed through the plates and the shank's weight is unbalanced with respect to the RSI. The ripper assembly is elevated causing the shank to rotate within the RSI to a substantially vertical position. The crawler is moved forward while lowering the ripper assembly in order to rip a groove into the ground with the bottom portion of the shank where the shank lowers into the ground. The RSI is disconnected from the shank wherein the shank is held in place by the grove. The bottom of the pocket is positioned over the top of the lowered shank and the pocket is lowered so that the shank is installed within the pocked and secured therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A crawler comprising:
 a ripper assembly comprising a pocket operable to receive and securely hold a shank vertically; and   a rotating installer attached to said ripper assembly and operable to receive and securely hold said shank when said ripper is in a lowered position, wherein said rotating installer is operable to rotate responsive to a weight of said shank as said ripper assembly is raised, wherein said rotating installer is operable to rotate said shank to a substantially vertical position with respect to the ground, and wherein further said rotating installer is operable to securely hold said shank vertically as said ripper assembly is lowered, while said crawler moves forward, causing said shank to rip a groove in the ground and to become depressed and held therein.   
     
     
         2 . The crawler of  claim 1 , wherein said rotating installer comprises:
 a pair of parallel plates welded to said ripper assembly forming a base;   a first back plate welded to said base;   a second back plate rotatively connected to said first back plate via a center pin and a collar, wherein said second back plate is operable to rotate with respect to said first back plate;   a first parallel plate coupled to said second back plate; and   a second parallel plate coupled to said second back plate, wherein said second parallel plate is substantially parallel to said first parallel plate, and wherein said first parallel plate and said second parallel plate each comprise a hole substantially aligned with one another and for alignment with a hole of said shank for securing said shank within said first and second parallel plates when a pin is inserted therein.   
     
     
         3 . The crawler of  claim 2 , wherein said rotating installer further comprises:
 a stopper connected to an upper portion of said ripper assembly of said pocket for contacting an edge of said shank; and   a claw coupled to a lower portion of said ripper assembly and making contact with said first and second back plate, wherein said stopper and said claw are operable to prevent said shank from exerting leverage on said center pin when said crawler moves forward and said shank is secured within said rotating installer.   
     
     
         4 . The crawler of  claim 2 , wherein said rotating installer further comprises:
 a pin operable to be placed in said hole of said first parallel plate, said hole of said second parallel plate, and said hole of said shank to secure said shank in between said first parallel plate and said second parallel plate.   
     
     
         5 . The crawler of  claim 2 , wherein said first parallel plate and said second parallel plate each further comprise a second hole, wherein said second holes are aligned with each other and are operable to be aligned with an edge of said shank and, along with said first holes, are operable to securely hold a shank within said first and second parallel plates when a pin is inserted therein. 
     
     
         6 . The crawler of  claim 2 , wherein said rotating installer further comprises:
 a first supporting portion and a second supporting portion operable to further couple said first parallel plate to said second back plate; and   a third supporting portion and a fourth supporting portion operable to further couple said second parallel plate to said second back plate.   
     
     
         7 . The crawler of  claim 1 , wherein said ripper assembly further comprises a pocket beam comprising said pocket and wherein said rotating installer is welded to said pocket beam. 
     
     
         8 . The crawler of  claim 7 , wherein said first back plate is welded to said pocket beam using two semi-circular support members. 
     
     
         9 . The crawler of  claim 1 , wherein said ripper assembly is a multi-shank ripper assembly. 
     
     
         10 . A rotating shank installer for installing a shank within a ripper assembly, said rotating shank assembly comprising:
 a first back plate operable for attaching to said ripper assembly;   a second back plate rotatively coupled to said first back plate, wherein said second back plate is operable to rotate with respect to said first back plate;   a first plate coupled to said second back plate; and   a second plate coupled to said second back plate, wherein said second plate is substantially parallel to said first plate, and wherein said first plate and said second plate each comprise a respective first hole substantially aligned with one another, and wherein said first plate and said second plate are operable to hold a shank positioned in between when a pin is positioned through said first holes and through a hole of said shank.   
     
     
         11 . The rotating shank installer of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a pin operable to be placed in said first hole of said first plate, said first hole of said second plate, and said hole of said shank to secure said shank within said plates.   
     
     
         12 . The rotating shank installer of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a first supporting portion and a second supporting portion operable to further couple said first plate to said second back plate; and   a third supporting portion and a fourth supporting portion operable to further couple said second plate to said second back plate.   
     
     
         13 . The rotating shank installer of  claim 10 , wherein said first parallel plate and said second parallel plate each further comprise a second hole, wherein said second holes are aligned with each other and are operable to be aligned with an edge of said shank and, along with said first holes, are operable to securely hold a shank within said first and second parallel plates when a pin is inserted therein. 
     
     
         14 . The rotating shank installer of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a center pin and a collar operable to rotatively couple said second back plate to said first back plate.   
     
     
         15 . The rotating shank installer of  claim 10 , wherein said first back plate is operable to be welded to a pocket beam of said ripper assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The rotating shank installer of  claim 14  further comprising:
 a stopper connected to an upper portion of said ripper assembly for contacting an edge of said shank; and 
 a claw coupled to a lower portion of said ripper assembly and making contact with said second back plate and first plate, wherein said stopper and said claw are operable to prevent said shank from exerting leverage on said center pin when said crawler moves forward and said shank is secured within said rotating shank installer.