Abstract: An impact tool has a slidable hammer that is driven by hydraulic oil under pressure inside a chamber. The hydraulic oil is pressurized by a piston driven by compressed gas on the opposite side of the piston from the hydraulic oil. The gas in the gas chamber is compressed by the piston on an initial stroke, and has a large annular chamber holding the gas so that higher average gas pressure can be attained during the power stroke. As the piston is moved to compress the gas, the piston lifts a valve that opens a passage for the hydraulic oil moved by the piston to act on a hammer to impact a breaking tool. The piston is a two part piston that serves to lower the inertia during the final closing of the valve, and thereby reduces impact loads on the valve as it is closed. The valve also is controlled as to its stroke for efficient operation.

Abstract: A percussive hammer for delivering impacts driven by oil which is quickly applied under pressure derived from a system supply and from a source of compressed gas.

Abstract: A counterbalance system for a vehicle having an axis of forward movement, a frame, and front and rear wheels spaced by a wheelbase dimension. A counterweight elides axially along a rail mounted to the frame, A power link mounted to the counterweight and connected to a linkage that is pivoted both to the counterweight and to the frame moves the counterweight forwardly or rearwardly to stabilize the vehicle at various load and slope conditions where the vehicle would otherwise be less stable.

Abstract: An impact device for breaking up and separating hard material comprises an actuating system for providing a faster cycle rate as well as an increased impact force. More specifically, the device includes a pair of pistons movably arranged in a cylinder to cooperate in compressing the gaseous component prior to initiating the blow. A closed tube is provided to fluidly interconnect opposite chambers adjacent the two pistons to coordinate the different movements of the pistons to effect the desired compression. The impact device is particularly well suited for use in an impact bucket.

Abstract: A mounting bracket for mounting a working device to a boom of a carrier includes a base, flanges for attaching the bracket to the boom, and ears for attaching the working device to the bracket. The ears each define a hole for pivotally coupling the working device thereto for free pivotal movement about a single axis to alleviate the generation of excessive side forces. The bracket further includes stops to limit the free angular movement so that the working device can be oriented at an inclination and so that it may be used to pry pieces of the worked material.

Abstract: An impact hammer according to this invention has a frame to house its actuating mechanism and to support a working impact tool which is to receive a sharp impact blow from the impact hammer and deliver it to a structure or formation that is to be pierced or fragmented. The impact tool projects from the frame and is axially reciprocable in the frame. A hammer head is reciprocably mounted in the frame with a close sliding fit. It has an impact face that faces toward the impact tool to strike the tool when the impact is intended to occur. At positions beyond this intended range, the hammer head is braked so it does not impact the frame. The blow to the tool is a high-energy, sharp blow, and is not intended to contribute a follow-on application of force after the initial impact. The hammer head has a shank, a loading shoulder and a poppet port.

Abstract: A bucket system which includes a bucket having a bottom with a digging edge. An impact-type penetration member projects beyond the digging edge to penetrate the surface of a body being excavated. The free edge of the penetration member is continuous and is at least as long as the bucket is wide. Bearing surfaces and restraint surfaces enable the penetration member to be driven by an impact member with reduced wear, and with the ability to respond to irregularities in the surface being penetrated.

Abstract: A bucket system which includes a bucket having a bottom with a digging edge. An impact-type penetration member projects beyond the digging edge to penetrate the surface of a body being excavated. The free edge of the penetration member is continuous and is at least as long as the bucket is wide. Bearing surfaces and restraint surfaces enable the penetration member to be driven by an impact member with reduced wear, and with the ability to respond to irregularities in the surface being penetrated. Preferably the penetration member includes a pair of deflector wings spaced apart farther than the sides of the bucket.

Abstract: A percussive tool, and a tool bit for the percussive tool for cutting the face of a deposit to be extracted. The tool bit is a circularly cylindrical columnar structure driven axially by the percussive tool. It is laterally unsupported and unobstructed for a substantial reference length. It has a circular cutting edge whose outer diameter increases as it extends axially away from its cutting end. Its ratio of wall thickness to outer diameter, and reference length to wall diameter, are such as to resist permanent lateral deformation and euler-type columnar collapse. When mounted, the bit is rotatable around its own central axis.

Abstract: A hydraulically powered impact hammer utilizes hydraulic power to compress a gas charge to store energy. The energy is simply released to drive a hammer to strike a tool. A tool mount is slidably mounted to the frame that supports the hammer. The mount is cup-like and surrounds part of the frame. It carries a tool which is driven when the hammer strikes the mount.

Abstract: A tool holder for an impact tool. The tool is driven by an actuating rod, and both the actuating rods and the tool have a taper which, when the tool is installed narrow toward each other. They are surrounded by a collet, shaped as a ring and having an opening to receive each of the tapers. Each opening has an internal wall with a matching taper. The taper angles fall within the cone of friction. The collet is expanded by the wedging action of the two sets of tapers. Its springback forces hold the tool to the actuating rod. For removing the tool, the collet has a fluid pressure fitting through which fluid under pressure can be injected into the region between the rod and tool to release one of them from the collet. Preferably the collet is formed so the tool is released before the collet is released from the actuating rod.

Abstract: A brake to decelerate the driving movement of an actuating rod along an axis. The actuating rod is driven relative to a frame by an actuating mechanism. The actuating rod has an external tapered surface whose lateral dimension decreases in the direction in which it is driven. The brake includes a case attachable to the frame which contains within it a peripheral cylindrical brake band and a wedge member. The wedge member has an outer wall, and a tapered inside wall with substantially the same taper angle as the actuating rod. The wedge member and the brake member are disposed inside a passage in the case, with the brake band disposed between the case wall and the wedge member. There is a spacing between the wall of the passage and the outer wall of the brake band. The tapered inside wall is axially aligned with at least a portion of the inside wall of the brake band.

Abstract: A hydraulically-powered impact tool for delivering a sequence of axial blows. A body houses a gas chamber, a storage chamber, a loading chamber, and a rod passage. The gas chamber and storage chamber are separated by a movable piston, and the storage chamber and loading chamber are separated by a movable piston head that is attached to a piston rod which is reciprocably movable in the rod passage and adapted to strike a work tool. An orifice in the piston head interconnects the storage chamber and the loading chamber when the orifice is open so as to provide a short-length and large-area passage for transfer of fluid from one side of the head to the other while the tool delivers its blow. A poppet is adapted to close the orifice in one position and to leave it open in another position.