Post driving implement

Abstract

Disclosed embodiments include post driving implements which attach to a power machine such as a loader in order to pick up posts of various sizes and materials and/or to drive the posts into the ground. In some exemplary disclosed embodiments, the post driving implement allows a post to be picked up when positioned inline with a direction of power machine travel and allows the post to rotate under the force of gravity to a second position in which the post is inline with a pounding mechanism for pounding the post into the ground. Catch mechanisms can be included to capture a portion of the implement to maintain the post in the second position until a release action is taken or a release command is given.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A post driving implement configured to be mounted to a power machine having a lift arm moveable from a fully lowered position to a fully raised position and an implement carrier coupled to the lift arm, the post driving implement configured to insert a post into a support surface, the post driving implement comprising:
 an implement frame having a power machine interface configured engage and be coupled to the implement carrier;   a grabbing tool pivotably mounted to the implement frame and configured to pick up the post lying on the support surface generally in-line with a direction of power machine travel, the grabbing tool configured to pivot so that the post is positioned at a desired attitude relative to the support surface as the lift arm of the power machine is raised toward the fully raised position;   a pounding mechanism coupled to the implement frame and positioned and configured to engage the post held by the grabbing tool to apply a force to urge the post into the support surface.   
     
     
         2 . The post driving implement of  claim 1 , wherein the grabbing tool is configured to be pivotable relative to the implement frame between a first position, in which the grabbing tool is oriented to pick up the post lying on the support surface generally in-line with the direction of power machine travel, and a second position which positions the post generally vertically under the pounding mechanism such that the pounding mechanism can apply the force to urge the post into the support surface. 
     
     
         3 . The post driving implement of  claim 2 , wherein the grabbing tool is biased toward the first position to pick up the post lying on the support surface and is configured to move under the force of gravity toward the second position, after picking up the post, as the lift arm of the power machine is raised toward the fully raised position. 
     
     
         4 . The post driving implement of  claim 2 , wherein the grabbing tool is configured to pivot freely from the first position, allowing the post driving implement to pick up the post lying on the support surface, to the second position as the lift arm of the power machine is raised after picking up the post. 
     
     
         5 . The post driving implement of  claim 2 , wherein the grabbing tool further comprises:
 a tool frame pivotally mounted to the implement frame to allow the grabbing tool to pivot between the first position and the second position;   a pair of arms pivotally mounted to the tool frame;   a grabbing tool actuator coupled to the tool frame and to the pair of arms, the grabbing tool actuator configured to pivot each of the pair of arms under power to selectively engage and release the post.   
     
     
         6 . The post driving implement of  claim 5 , wherein each of the pair of arms has a jaw at an end thereof wherein the jaws are shaped to collectively grab and hold the post. 
     
     
         7 . The post driving implement of  claim 6 , wherein the jaws include serrated edges configured to grab a post inserted into the ground to pull the post out of the ground. 
     
     
         8 . The post driving implement of  claim 5 , wherein each of the pair of arms has first gripping surfaces having a first radius to grab posts of a first size and second gripping surfaces having a second radius to grab posts of a second size. 
     
     
         9 . The post driving implement of  claim 8 , wherein each of the pair of arms has gripping features configured to grab posts larger than the first and second sizes. 
     
     
         10 . The post driving implement of  claim 2 , wherein the first position is a vertical position and the second position is a horizontal position. 
     
     
         11 . A post driving implement configured to be mounted to a power machine having a lift arm moveable from a fully lowered position to a fully raised position and an implement carrier coupled to the lift arm, the post driving implement configured to insert a post into a support surface, the post driving implement comprising:
 an implement frame having a power machine interface configured engage and be coupled to the implement carrier;   a grabbing tool pivotably mounted to the implement frame and configured to pick up the post lying on the support surface, the grabbing tool capable of pivoting so that the post is positioned at a desired attitude relative to the support surface as the lift arm of the power machine is raised toward the fully raised position; and   a locking mechanism configured to releasably lock the grabbing tool to the implement frame when the post is positioned at the desired attitude.   
     
     
         12 . The post driving implement of  claim 11 , wherein the grabbing tool is configured to pick up the post with the post lying on the support surface generally in-line with the power machine. 
     
     
         13 . The post driving implement of  claim 11 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a latch mechanism coupled to the implement frame, the grabbing tool including a feature which the latch mechanism engages to releasably lock the grabbing tool to the implement frame such that when the grabbing tool is locked to the implement frame the grabbing tool is incapable of pivoting relative to the implement frame. 
     
     
         14 . The post driving implement of  claim 13 , wherein the grabbing tool is configured to be pivotable relative to the implement frame between a vertical position, in which the grabbing tool is oriented to pick up the post lying on the support surface, and a horizontal position in which the post is positioned to be inserted into the support surface, and wherein the latch mechanism holds the grabbing tool in the horizontal position when the grabbing tool is locked to the implement frame. 
     
     
         15 . The post driving implement of  claim 14 , and further comprising a pounding mechanism coupled to the implement frame and positioned and configured to engage the post held by the grabbing tool to apply a force to insert the post into the support surface, wherein in the horizontal position the grabbing tool positions the post generally vertically beneath the pounding mechanism such that the pounding mechanism can apply the force to urge the post into the support surface. 
     
     
         16 . The post driving implement of  claim 14 , and further comprising a release mechanism coupled to the latch mechanism and configured to release the grabbing tool from the horizontal position such that the grabbing tool returns to the vertical position. 
     
     
         17 . The post driving implement of  claim 16 , wherein the release mechanism is configured to be engaged by an arm of the grabbing tool to release the grabbing tool from the horizontal position. 
     
     
         18 . A post driving implement configured to be mounted to a power machine having a lift arm moveable from a fully lowered position to a fully raised position and an implement carrier pivotally coupled to the lift arm, the post driving implement configured to insert a post into a support surface, the post driving implement comprising:
 an implement frame having a power machine interface configured engage and be coupled to the implement carrier;   a grabbing tool pivotably mounted to the implement frame and configured to pick up the post lying on the support surface; and   a level indicator pivotally attached to one side of the implement frame, the level indicator being free to move relative to the implement frame and provide an indication on another surface of the implement frame of whether the post is vertical relative to the support surface.   
     
     
         19 . The post driving implement of  claim 18 , wherein the level indicator is pivotally attached to the one side of the implement frame and configured to pivot about an axis which is parallel to the other surface of the implement frame. 
     
     
         20 . The post driving implement of  claim 19 , wherein the level indicator includes a right-angle bend to provide the indication on the other surface of whether the post is vertical relative to the support surface. 
     
     
         21 . A method of urging a post into a support surface, the method comprising:
 providing a power machine with an implement attached thereto, the implement having a grabbing tool for grabbing the post;   positioning the power machine in-line with the post lying on the support surface;   positioning the grabbing tool adjacent to the post;   grabbing the post with the grabbing tool;   raising the implement to position the post in a desired attitude with respect to the support surface; and   driving the post into the support surface using a pounding mechanism of the implement.