Abstract: A device for placing survey flags, and similar devices having stems, is operated so that the stem is locked or otherwise held to an elongated shaft or similar aligning device. Pressure on the shaft or aligning device forces a portion of the flag stem into the soil or other sound substrate. Then, an operator can carry out an operation to separate the placing device from the stem.

Abstract: The invention provides a T-post hole-forming device, comprising (a) a shaft; (b) a head for receiving a driving force at the top of said shaft; (c) a flat plate affixed to one side of said shaft, the shaft terminating in a pointed end for piercing the ground. Also provided is a method for installing a T-post into the ground. The method involves (a) piercing the ground with the T-post hole-forming device to produce a hole; (b) removing the device from the ground, and (c) inserting a T-post into the hole, thereby installing the T-post into the ground.

Abstract: A slide hammer for installing stakes into the ground is provided. The slide hammer comprises a shaft with a pointed first end, a cup located on the second end, an impact ring located between the ends of the shaft, and a slideable weight located between the cup and the impact ring. The slideable weight has a gripping surface for the user to hold, and striking surfaces to forcibly contact the cup and the impact ring as the user reciprocally moves the slideable weight. The slide hammer allows the user to pre-make a hole in the ground prior to stake installation. The user is then able to install the stake into the pre-made hole using a reduced amount of force required to drive the stake into the ground.

Abstract: A tractor carries a vertically adjustable frame supporting a horizontal shaft for a supply roll of silt fence fabric. A flat vertical plow blade is mounted on the frame and has a front surface and a rear surface. A thinner flat vertical fin is supported directly behind the plow blade by a horizontal fabric guide bar attached to the frame. The fin has a downwardly and rearwardly curved front surface for receiving an intermediate portion of the fabric directed around the guide bar and for folding an edge portion of the fabric into the slot formed by the plow blade. After the ground is compacted by a tractor wheel, wood stakes are driven into the ground by a hydraulically actuated cylinder device mounted on a side of the tractor frame between the front and rear wheels, and the fabric is attached to the stakes.

Abstract: A hammer is provided which enables the orientation of a tool or bit mounted within a spindle of the hammer to be rotated to the required orientation. The hammer comprises a housing part having an aperture therein in which a spindle that is mounted so that the spindle extends out of the housing through the aperture. The spindle is capable of being rotated about its axis to any of a plurality of orientations, so as to alter the orientation of a tool or bit mounted therein. A locking ring is located around the spindle which locking ring can be moved axially along the spindle into and out of engagement with the housing part, so that when the locking ring engages the housing, it prevents the spindle from rotating with respect to the housing. A grip ring is located around the spindle and can be rotated about the axis of the spindle from a first position in which it prevents disengagement of the locking ring from the housing.

Abstract: A slide hammer includes three major components, namely, a guide sleeve, a plunger and an impact head. The plunger is inserted within the guide sleeve. The impact head is secured within the distal end of the guide sleeve, and has a portion which protrudes from the guide sleeve distal end. The impact head is able to freely slide within a segmented portion of the guide sleeve distal end. The plunger is slid within the guide sleeve at a selected velocity in order to contact the portion of the impact head slidably secured within the guide sleeve. The force of the plunger striking the impact head is transmitted through the impact head to a targeted object in contact with the protruding portion of the impact head. The impact head may be fitted with various types of tips. Each of the tips has particular advantages in applying force to a targeted object.

Abstract: A driver for inserting an elongated object into the earth includes a body portion having an elongated cavity for receiving the elongated object. The elongated cavity has a blind end within the body portion, and the body portion has an impact surface substantially normal to the elongated cavity. The impact surface is for receiving impacts. There is also one or more elongated handles attached to the body portion, the elongated handle(s) being substantially parallel to the elongated cavity and spaced apart laterally from the elongated cavity.

Abstract: A combination anchoring pin and insertion apparatus which includes a vertically disposed elongated barrel having an axial bore and an elongated hammer drive rod slidably received within the bore with the upper end extending above the top opening of the barrel and having a handle secured to the upper end of the rod. A side opening is provided in the barrel for sequentially introducing anchoring pins therethrough into the bore and a pin guide chute is secured to the barrel and aligned with this barrel side opening for sequentially feeding anchor pins through the side opening in guided alignment. The anchoring pin has one or two pin shafts depending at a right angle downwardly from an enlarged head and an anchoring pin retainer is positioned in the barrel bore below the side opening to receive, retain and position the anchoring pins sequentially under the lower end of the drive rod for sequential downward driving engagement or hammering by the drive rod.

Abstract: A manually operated tool is provided for driving elongated plugs into railroad ties. An elongated driver housing, including an upper end and a lower end defines an elongated barrel. A handle is secured to the housing adjacent to the upper end. A reciprocating plunger is slidably mounted within the housing. A handle is secured to the plunger and extends generally perpendicularly from the plunger to extend outwardly through a slot defined longitudinally in the housing. A magazine for storing and sequentially feeding a plurality of plugs into said barrel is located at a position adjacent to the lower end of the housing. The magazine comprises a magazine housing adapted to receive and store a plurality of plugs in a vertical orientation and an advancer slidably mounted within said magazine housing and spring-biased for movement toward the driver housing.

Abstract: A downhole well drilling apparatus includes an above-ground mast and an axially elongated generally cylindrical pneumatic hammer drill supported by the mast and mounted in an axially vertical above-ground position. An installation and removal adapter mounted on the lower end of the pneumatic hammer drill couples the hammer drill to a pipe string and maintains a movable part of the hammer drill in an operative condition at all times thereby enabling the hammer drill to operate while rotational torque and upward directed force are simultaneously applied to the operating hammer drill by the apparatus during removal of a casing from a downhole position. Hammer operation is controlled by a manually operable air supply valve.

Abstract: A rod driving and extracting tool having a head connected to a handle is provided. The tool has two ends, each of which has an open bore, or rod-receiving end for communicating a section of a rod to be driven through either a first or second hollow handle section, respectively. The first and second hollow handle sections each have a second end forming a rod driving surface disposed in the handle. The first and second rod driving surfaces are on opposite sides of a generally solid, rod driving section interposed between the first and second hollow handle sections. The head has at least one additional driving surface in the form of a striking face. A rod extraction tool in the form of a cross-wise hole through the handle is provided in the solid rod driving section. Methods of using the tool to install a rod or to extract a partially exposed rod, are provided.

Abstract: A hand held-type apparatus for fracturing a gate or riser from a casting subsequent to a foundry pouring process. The apparatus operates off of a driven piston assembly, which upon a stroke of such causes a hammer end of the piston assembly to extend from the apparatus and contact the casting, thereby causing the fracturing of the gate or riser from the casting. The apparatus also includes an assembly for decelerating the driven piston assembly upon a stroke of such, as well as an apparatus for isolating the linear motion of the apparatus from the operator thereof.

Abstract: A slide hammer includes three major components, namely, a guide sleeve, a plunger and an impact head. The plunger is inserted within the guide sleeve. The impact head is secured within the distal end of the guide sleeve, and has a portion which protrudes from the guide sleeve distal end. The impact head is able to freely slide within a segmented portion of the guide sleeve distal end. The plunger is slid within the guide sleeve at a selected velocity in order to contact the portion of the impact head slidably secured within the guide sleeve. The force of the plunger striking the impact head is transmitted through the impact head to a targeted object in contact with the protruding portion of the impact head. The impact head may be fitted with various types of tips. Each of the tips has particular advantages in applying force to a targeted object.

Abstract: A post driver which is mounted to the three-point hitch of a tractor is provided with a support to reduce wobble of the post driver during operation and to facilitate mounting of the post driver to the tractor's three-point hitch. The post driver has a carriage and a ram movable vertically relative to said carriage. The carriage is mounted to a base. The base includes a mount adapted for mounting the post driver to a hitch of a vehicle. A support frame depends from the mount rearwardly of the carriage. The frame has a vertical member and a horizontal member, and generally vertically extending legs at the ends of the horizontal member. The legs are mounted to the horizontal member to be movable vertically relative to the horizontal member. The legs are spaced equidistantly from the carriage of the post driver.

Abstract: A stake/post driver for use with a handheld jackhammer comprising a hammer assembly including a hammer element configured to strike the upper portion of the stake or post coupled to the handheld jackhammer by a hammer spindle to mechanically drive a stake or post into the ground or other support surface and a hammer guide assembly including a hammer housing to receive the hammer element and a portion of the hammer spindle therein having an upper spindle guide formed on the upper portion thereof to receive a portion of the hammer spindle therethrough and a lower stake/post guide coupled to the lower portion thereof to receive a portion of the stake or post therethrough to cooperatively align the hammer element relative to the stake or post during operation of the stake/post driver such that the hammer element strikes the upper portion of the stake or post driving the stake or post into the ground or other support surface.

Abstract: A global positioning system (GPS) controlled marking apparatus for staking and a method of using the apparatus to stake a surface. The apparatus uses a standard architectural or other surface site application program and a stakeout driver program in a standard computer and includes a GPS receiver, a stakeout tool, an autopilot, a vehicle, a geographical drawing converter, and a location comparator. The geographical drawing converter converts an image of a drawing pattern to geographical mark locations. The autopilot guides the vehicle to the geographical mark locations. The location comparator detects a location march between the geographical mark locations of the drawing pattern and a current geographical location determined by the GPS receiver. Information for the location match is used by the stakeout tool for driving a stake into the ground.

Abstract: A breaker, used for breaking target hard objects, such as reinforced concrete structures, rocks or hard soil, using pneumatic and hydraulic pressure, is disclosed. In the breaker, the piston is multi-stepped to form first, second and third oil chambers between the piston and the cylinder. First, second, third and fourth oil paths are formed in the sidewall of the cylinder. The first oil path extends from the oil inlet port to the first chamber, thus feeding pressurized oil from an external oil source to the first chamber. A valve chamber is formed in the sidewall of the cylinder. The second oil path allows the valve chamber to selectively communicate with the second chamber. A directional control valve unit is installed within the valve chamber, and selectively returns the pressurized oil from the first chamber to the valve chamber prior to feeding the oil from the valve chamber to the second chamber through a plurality of oil ports and the second oil path.

Abstract: A portable, hand-held forcible entry device is provided for opening locked or barricaded doors in emergency situations. The device comprises a firearm secured to a hollow cylindrical housing. A piston is positioned in a chamber in the housing and drives a striker. An interchangeable tool bit is mounted to the striker. When the firearm is fired, the percussive force causes the piston to move forward in the interior chamber toward the striker. The piston strikes the base of the striker causing the tool bit mounted on the striker to forcibly move forward into a target object, such as a locked or barricaded door. Compression springs are positioned in the chamber to return the piston to the firing position. The device is particularly suitable for use by law enforcement and emergency personnel for forcing locked doors open and for freeing victims trapped in automobile accidents.

Abstract: An impacting device is capable of being used in an impact hammer and/or a drill for releasing by impact tools blocked in rocks. An impact impetus supplied by an impact piston is modified via an impact-deflecting device having a sliding lever and a deflecting lever, such that the impact is carried out in a releasing impact direction opposite the normal impact direction and is transmitted to a tool by a slide and a locking lever. The tool is released after a few strokes produced by the impact piston. The impact device is suitable for both unilateral air springs and double air springs.

Abstract: A hand held power tool formed as a hammer drill has a strikingly drivable tool holder having a base body, at least one locking body with which the base body is form-lockingly connectable and through which the base body is fixable in a rotary direction in at least two positions, the locking body being formed as a ring-shaped component.

Abstract: An injection packer, injection packer installation/removal tool, and method of use thereof are especially suited for use in the repair of concrete structures and the like. The injection packer includes a body that is removable from a nonmetallic expansion member that may remain within a repair bore after the injection material is injected into the repair bore. The packer body includes a shank, nozzle, and keyed head with an injection bore therethrough. The nozzle is threaded to engage a nonmetallic nut attached to the expansion member. In use, as the packer body is rotated in a first direction the expansion member is compressed between the nut and the packer body shank, thereby radially bulging the expansion member. At this point fluid may be injected through the injection packer and into the bore and crack(s). As the packer body is rotated in a second direction the expansion member is uncompressed. The packer body is easily detachable from the expansion member.

Abstract: A method for adjusting percussion pressure and a drilling machine. In the method the percussion power of a drilling machine is adjusted by moving a shank in the longitudinal direction of the drilling machine forwards when a smaller percussion power is to be transferred from the percussion piston to the shank. The drilling machine comprises at least two groups of pistons moving in the axial direction of the drilling machine, the pistons being connected to act on the shank by means of a pressure medium acting behind the pistons towards the front end of the drilling machine. The drilling machine comprises at least two separate groups of pistons whose travel with respect to one another is different and where pressure medium channels separate from one another lead to the cylinder spaces of both piston groups.

Abstract: An impact breaker has a sleeve which slidably receives an end portion of a tool. The tool is formed over its end portion with a groove extending completely around the end portion of the tool for receiving lubricant for lubricating movement of the tool in the sleeve.

Abstract: A manually operated leak detection device used in locating fluid leaks in a ground surface includes an elongated rod and a handle transversely fixed thereto. The invention is improved by fixing an anvil on the rod; slidably mounting a first collar on the rod above the anvil; slidably mounting a second collar on the rod below the anvil; connecting and spacing the first and second collars by a pair of parallel guide rods passing through the anvil, each of the guide rods lying on one side of the rod; providing a protective sheath over the anvil, the first and second collars and the guide rods, the sheath being connected to the second collar; and slidably mounting a handle over the rod and a top portion of the first collar, the handle being secured to the sheath at the top of the first collar.

Abstract: A slide hammer includes three major components, namely, a guide sleeve, a plunger and an impact head. The plunger is inserted within the guide sleeve. The impact head is secured within the distal end of the guide sleeve, and has a portion which protrudes from the guide sleeve distal end. The impact head is able to freely slide within a segmented portion of the guide sleeve distal end. The plunger is slid within the guide sleeve at a selected velocity in order to contact the portion of the impact head slidably secured within the guide sleeve. The force of the plunger striking the impact head is transmitted through the impact head to a targeted object in contact with the protruding portion of the impact head. The impact head may be fitted with various types of tips.

Abstract: An easily removable and reusable improved holding pin device and method for securing together the sections of a toner cartridge assembly for use in imaging machines. The holding pin comprises a shank with a tapered head structured to allow easy gripping of the holding pin by pulling tools by using the taper which forms a recess in the head so the head will abut for easy grabbing with a conventional pulling tool for easy removal. The gripping parts of a tool may extend through this recess space to grip or otherwise contact the head of the holding pin, allowing the holding pin to be pulled from the assembly without damage to the holding pin or cartridge assembly. In another embodiment of the holding pin there is a first portion of the head that is tapered and a second portion of the head that is not tapered so that the tapered portion forms a recess so the second portion is easy to grab and is also set in precise position so as not to stick out too far.

Abstract: A multi-purpose impact tool, i.e. a tool for splitting wood or bricks, tamping, scraping ice of cutting trenches includes an elongated guide bar with a threaded bottom end for carrying an appropriate head, a sleeve slidably mounted on the bar for reciprocating against the head for driving the latter, and a cam lock near the top end of the sleeve locking the guide bar and sleeve together in a non-use position.

Abstract: An underground utility line flagger and marker having an elongated main body having an upper end and a lower-end ground penetrator, a forwardly projecting handle at the upper end at an acute angle to the main body, the ground penetrator having a marker flagstaff-engagement recess at the bottom thereof, and a foot-driven projection on the main body whereby the staff of a marker flag lying on the ground can be inserted into the ground with the flag upright by using the handle to place the engagement recess on the flagstaff and stepping on the peg.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved forcible entry tool for opening locked or jammed doors by emergency personnel for the purpose of apprehending criminal suspects, gathering evidence, and preserving lives of people who become trapped by fire, earthquake, tornadoes, or by other circumstances beyond their control. The tool of the present invention comprises an elongated frame with a piercing pivot blade on the front end of the tool. The pivot blade is configured to pivot perpendicular to the frame upon penetration through a door, thereby enabling the tool operator to effectively pull back on the tool to break open an outwardly swinging door. A detachable ram head may be mounted over the front end of the frame for purposes of breaking through a door that swings inward (i.e. away from the tool operating personnel).

Abstract: A portable hand tool is provided for inserting a marker flag into the ground. The tool has a shaft (12) having a handle (30) attached at a first end, and a ground penetrating tip (14) extending from a second end. The ground penetrating tip has an aperture which extends longitudinally through shaft (12) and is adapted for receiving the stem portion of a marker flag. In operation, a portion (42) of the end of the flag stem is inserted in aperture (16). The flag stem is then bent back toward the tool shaft forming a U-shaped bend (44) in the flag stem. Following insertion into the ground, the bend acts as a barb to anchor the flag stem in the ground.

Abstract: A pneumatic downhole impact drill has a porting system for automatically supplying pneumatic pressure fluid from a fluid delivery tube received within an axial bore in the impact piston to the opposite ends of the piston operating cylinder as the piston reciprocates. A flange on the delivery tube is slidably mounted in a cavity in a mounting hub assembly. Passageways provide fluid communication between the pressure fluid inlet plenum and the operating chamber side of the cavity and between the back chamber and the inlet plenum side of the cavity. Fluid pressure forces acting on the opposite faces of the flange and on the top end surface of the delivery tube reciprocate the delivery tube between upstroke and downstroke positions. Positioning the delivery tube in the upstroke position increases the axial distance that the piston must travel before the pressure fluid supply is connected to the back end of the operating chamber on the piston upstroke.

Abstract: A bi-directional impact tool includes a hollow tube member and a shaft slidably received by the hollow tube member in a telescopic relationship. The hollow tube member extends along a longitudinal axis and has a first end and a second end disposed opposite the first end. The shaft extends longitudinally along the longitudinal axis and has a working end disposed exteriorly of the hollow tube member for engaging the workpiece and a striking end disposed opposite the working end and interiorly of the hollow tube member. Moving the hollow tube member in a first direction so that the first end collides with the striking end while the working end is engaged with the workpiece imparts a first impact force to the workpiece in the first direction. Moving the hollow tube member in a second direction opposite the first direction so that the second end collides with the striking end while the working end is engaged with the workpiece imparts a second impact force to the workpiece in the second direction.

Abstract: A new tool with interchangeable heads for the selection of a proper tool for the digging or manipulating of a surface for landscaping or construction purposes. The inventive device includes a shaft and interchangeable head members insertable into the shaft including a first head member with an auger head section extending from a rod section, a second head member with an mallet head section extending from a rod section, and a third head member with a chisel head section extending from a rod section.

Abstract: A drive ring driver for driving drive rings into a desired surface is comprised of a rod that is slidably passed through a handle member. A shaft member is attached and secured to the second end of the rod via a rod adaptor. A drive ring head is secured to the shaft and is adapted to receive the head portion of a drive ring. Once the drive ring is received within the drive ring head, a force is imparted onto the first end of the rod and is transferred to the drive ring, thereby driving the drive ring into its intended surface.

Abstract: Implement for removing parasitic ticks from the skin of animals or humans, characterized in that it is a one-piece device comprising a handle (3) ending in a grip portion (1,2) of circular cross-section, and a curved and flattened end with a forked tip (4) substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis of the grip (1,2), said forked tip (4) having two tines (5) defining an inter-tine (6) gap for gripping the tick, wherein the implement is capable of removing the tick by rotating about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the skin to which it is attached.

Abstract: A portable power driven post driver. The post driver has an inner hollow cylinder open at its upper end and adapted to receive a post through a locking mechanism located at its lower end. The inner cylinder is located within an outer hollow cylinder in sliding engagement therewith, the outer cylinder having a closed upper end in contact with the upper end of a post held in said inner cylinder. Two fluid powered cylinders and associated pistons are attached to the outer surface of the outer cylinder, the longitudinal axes of the two fluid powered cylinders being in alignment. A common piston rod extends between the two pistons and is attached by a fastening member to the inner cylinder, the fastening member extending through a slot in the outer cylinder.

Abstract: An air-driven post driver that includes a hammer assembly and a post receiving assembly. The hammer assembly includes an air-driven piston hammer slidably disposed within a cylinder bore of a cylinder body having a circumferential compressed air groove of a first groove width formed into the cylinder wall that defines the cylinder bore and an upper discharge port and a lower discharge port. The piston hammer includes an upward thrusting air passageway and a downward thrusting air passageway. The upward thrusting air passageway includes a radially oriented upward intake passageway and a longitudinally oriented upward discharge passageway. The upward discharge passageway is of a length greater than one half the length of the piston hammer. The downward thrusting passageway includes a radially oriented downward intake passageway and a longitudinally oriented downward discharge passageway having a threaded downward discharge port.

Abstract: An improved spade-type hand tool incorporates an easily operated impact member which is slidably received on the upper end of the tool handle for acceleration by gravity to generate an impactive force for increasing the efficiency of the tool for chopping ice, roots, hard soil, etc. Attached to the tool's spade-type blade is an inclined-ramp component that serves (a) to lift, separate, and break up material into which the blade is driven, and (b) to increase the effectiveness of the spade tool when it is used for prying or as a lifting wedge.

Abstract: The present invention relates to building and to mining, more particularly o an apparatus for impact action designed for trenchless laying of new underground communications and for reconstruction of existing communications, the apparatus comprising a body, a striker with a through central channel, the striker positioned inside the body with the possibility of performing reciprocal movement, a front chamber formed between the body and striker, a rear chamber formed between the body and the striker, an air distribution system comprising channels for the inlet of compressed air into the chambers and channels for the exhaust of spent air from the chambers, an air conduit, and in which in accordance with the invention the air distribution system is provided autonomously for each of the aforesaid chambers.

Abstract: A rotary percussion drill for mining, rock drilling and similar operations is provided. The drill combines a rotation portion with a percussion portion to impart a simultaneous rotational and reciprocating percussive action to the drill steel or other working element. The frequency of the percussive impact can be varied to drill efficiently rock of different hardness by changing the cross-sectional cam configuration of a camshaft which activates a reciprocating piston imparting percussive action to the drill steel or other working element.

Abstract: An improved pile driving drop hammer of the free piston internal combustion engine type preferably has integral pistons on each end of a ram that reciprocates, usually vertically, in an enclosing bore. There is a combustion chamber on each end of the bore and exhaust ports situated near each combustion chamber such that the ports are opened, two cycle engine fashion, by the associated piston, after some movement of the piston, after combustion takes place to vent the active combustion chamber and then serve as intake ports when the piston moves some distance farther along the bore. At each end of the bore an anvil extends from the bore, axially movable some amount, to serve as an end to each combustion chamber. The lower anvil delivers ram impact energy to the driven piling and the upper anvil delivers impact energy from the ram to a free rising mass that is the essential element of this invention as an improvement to existing hammer designs.

Abstract: This invention is a tool for either inserting the stem of a flag or marker in soil or rocky terrain or providing a hole therein of sufficient size to receive the stem of a flag. The tool is made up of three main components, these being an inner rod, an outer pipe and a pair of collars attached near the ends of the inner rod. The outer pipe is positioned between the two collars. The inner rod is notched on one end to facilitate inserting the tool. To insert the flag, the user places a bend in the flag stem and then places the stem inside the notch. By pounding down on the lower collar (which is attached to the inner rod) with the outer pipe the notched end and flag stem are driven into the ground. When the flag has been inserted to a desired depth, the tool is extracted leaving the flag inserted in the ground. Alternatively, to insert the flag the tool is used to create a hole of sufficient size wherein the flag is then inserted.

Abstract: Plunger-actuated surface-treating devices adapted for dislodging ice, linoleum, floor-tiles, carpets, and other topical-surfaces from underlying substrates.

Abstract: A shore anchor for small boats and personal watercraft includes an elongated central spike-like member, two anvil collars, a slidable hammer weight, and a protective sheath. The anvils are used in conjunction with the slidable hammer weight to drive and retract the elongated spike into or out of the ground. The protective sheath covers the exposed end of the anchor when the anchor is deployed and is attached to the hammer weight. When the anchor is removed for transportation or storage the protective sheath covers the pointed end of the elongated spike and is attached to the other end of the hammer weight.

Abstract: A nail is held within a cylindrical nail chamber by a magnetized cylindrical driver rod. A driver sleeve is concentric with the nail chamber, and attached to the rearward end of the driver rod. As the driver sleeve is moved toward a surface, the driver rod drives the nail into the surface. A coil spring, attached between a chamber guide nut on the driver sleeve and the nail chamber, biases the nail driver in the extended position. A reinforcement cap between the driver rod and the driver sleeve is adjustable to adjust the distance that the nail is driven into the surface.

Abstract: An impact testing apparatus includes a main frame mounted on a main frame base. There is a pair of spaced-apart guide columns with an impact hammer slidably mounted thereon. A lifting beam is slidably mounted on the guide columns above the impact hammer and can be raised by a hoist to the top of the main frame. There is a specimen base adjacent the main frame base. There is a movable joint between the specimen base and the main frame base, whereby the main frame base is isolated from shock resulting from impact of the hammer on the specimen base. Preferably the joint is occupied by a non-rigid member, such as an elastomeric member. Preferably there is adjustable means for tensioning the guide columns. There may be an electromagnetic latch between the lifting beam and the impact hammer.

Abstract: A tool for rounding the end of a tube has an anvil with a cylindrical midsection and a tapered forward end. Extending rearwardly from the rear end of the anvil is an elongate shaft, and around the elongate shaft is a cylindrical hammer which slides axially along the shaft to strike the rear surface of the anvil. The hammer is retained in the shaft by any appropriate means such as a threaded nut or external flange at the distal end thereof.

Abstract: An impact hammer support 10 to be used in conjunction with an impact hammer 11 to aid in inserting a spike or fastener 12 into a wooden sleeper or cross tie 13. The support has a guide bushing 15 to slidably receive the driving tool 14. Attached to the bushing 15 is a bracket 19 which is pivotally supported by a foot pedal 23 to be engaged by the user. The impact hammer support 10 has the object of aiding in alignment of the impact hammer 11 with the spike or fastener 12.

Abstract: A grounding rod or other article is manually driven into the ground by an impact tool including an elongated guide shaft or rod having a center axis and upper and lower end portions. The lower end portion of the rod is secured by a cross pin to a coupler including a cylindrical body of electrical insulating material. The body defines a cavity extending downwardly from a metal anvil pad embedded within the body, and the cavity is formed by angularly related wedge surfaces extending from a slot. The slot opposes a threaded fastener extending radially through a flanged nut also embedded within the body. A cylindrical metal weight or hammer is slidable on the guide rod for impacting the coupler, and the hammer carries a pair of freely rotatable knobs disposed circumferentially at an angle less than 180.degree..

Abstract: An impact tool for removing bolts includes axially aligned impact section, torque section and shaft. The shaft is configured to extend through a socket to abut a bolt head when the socket is in operative communication with the bolt head. The shaft is additionally configured such that a torque applied to the shaft is transferred to the socket. The shaft defines a shaft face that abuts the bolt head. The impact section defines an impact face on the opposite end of the tool from the shaft face. The torque section is configured such that a torque applied thereto is transferred to the shaft. Accordingly, a blow to the impact face transfers an axial force to the bolt at the interface between the bolt head and the shaft face. Such axial force may tend to break a corrosive bond between the threads of the bolt and the receiving surface. Thus, axial blows to the tool in combination with torque applied to the torque section may tend to loosen and remove frozen bolts.