Apparatus for lifting and supporting fence rolls

Abstract

An apparatus for lifting and supporting a roll of wire fencing during installation of a wire fence. The apparatus is attachable to a standard three-point hitch mounted on a vehicle such as a tractor. The apparatus comprises a base which is pivotally connected to the hitch and a post that extends outwardly from the base and is insertable into an axial bore in the roll of fencing. The apparatus further includes a platform mounted at right angles to the post. The three-point hitch is activated to move the apparatus between a first position, where the post is oriented vertically, and a second position where the post is oriented horizontally. The apparatus is maintained in the first position when not in use. When the hitch is activated, the apparatus is moved into the second position, the vehicle is driven toward the roll of fencing to insert the post into the bore of the roll. The hitch is again activated to rotate the apparatus back into the first position. This movement causes the post to lift the roll of wire fencing off the ground. When the post is again in the first position, the end of the roll is supported on the platform. A first end of the wire fencing is secured to a fence post and the vehicle is driven forward to unroll a section of wire fencing from the roll. When the fencing operation is completed, the hitch is activated to move the apparatus from the first position back to the second position so that the roll of fencing may be removed therefrom.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/781,270, filed Mar. 10, 2006, the entire specification of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This invention generally relates to fence construction. More particularly, the invention relates to installation of wire fences. Specifically, the invention relates to a device for lifting and supporting rolls of wire fencing during installation of the same.

2. Background Information

Wire fencing is used in a wide variety of applications including enclosing pastures, yards and industrial properties. There are numerous types of wire fencing including mesh fencing, chain link and galvanized wire. All of these types of wire fencing are manufactured and then rolled into a cylindrical shape for transportation and sale. Because of the nature of the wire fencing, the rolls of fencing are extremely heavy and difficult to lift and move about. This is especially problematic for a farmer, for instance, who wishes to install a fence around a pasture and has to keep lifting, moving and unrolling sections of the fencing as he works. Furthermore, because of the metallic nature of the fencing, it is desirable to keep the roll in as upright a position as possible during installation in order to reduce the tendency for the fencing to become bent and twisted.

There is therefore a need in the art for a device to assist an installer to lift and support a roll of wire fencing during the installation process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device of the present invention is provided to lift and support a roll of wire fencing during installation thereof and is attachable to a standard three-point hitch mounted on a vehicle such as a tractor. The apparatus comprises a base which is pivotally connected to the hitch and a post that extend outwardly from the base and is insertable into an axial bore in the roll of fencing. The apparatus further includes a platform mounted at right angles to the post. The three-point hitch is activated to move the apparatus between a first position, where the post is oriented vertically, and a second position where the post is oriented horizontally. The apparatus is maintained in the first position when not in use. When the hitch is activated, the apparatus is moved into the second position, the vehicle is driven toward the roll of fencing to insert the post into the bore of the roll. The hitch is again activated to rotate the apparatus back into the first position. This movement causes the post to lift the roll of wire fencing off the ground. When the post is again in the first position, the end of the roll is supported on the platform. A first end of the wire fencing is secured to a fence post and the vehicle is driven forward to unroll a section of wire fencing from the roll. When the fencing operation is completed, the hitch is activated to move the apparatus from the first position back to the second position so that the roll of fencing may be removed therefrom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a side view of the lifting and supporting apparatus in accordance with the present invention, and shown attached to a tractor;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial view of the lifting and supporting apparatus connected to a three-point hitch mounted on the tractor;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the lifting and supporting apparatus taken through line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the lifting and supporting apparatus showing the orientation of the apparatus as it is inserted into the bore of a roll of wire fencing;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the lifting and supporting apparatus as it is being raised and showing the roll of fencing being held thereon; and

FIG. 6 is a side view of the lifting and supporting apparatus shown in a substantially vertical position where the fencing is supported in a position suitable for transportation and for a section of the wire fencing to be unrolled therefrom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown an apparatus for lifting and supporting a roll of fencing thereon in accordance with the present invention and generally indicated at 10. Apparatus 10 is shown connected to a standard three-point hitch 12, which in turn is mounted onto a vehicle, namely a tractor 14. Hitch 12 may be any suitable three-point hitch known in the art. In the attached figures, hitch 12 includes an upper link 66 and a pair of lower links 42 that are secured to a portion of the frame of the tractor 14. Upper link 66 may be hydraulically or manually extendable to alter the position of the uppermost connection point of hitch 12 relative to the rear end of tractor 14. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, upper link 66 includes a rod 68 and a manually rotatable cylindrical member 72. When member 72 is rotated in a first direction, rod 68 is extended outwardly away from the rear end of tractor 14. When member 72 is rotated in a second and opposite direction, rod 68 is retracted toward the rear end of the tractor 14.

In accordance with a specific feature of the present invention, the lifting and supporting apparatus 10, that is secured to hitch 12, comprises a base 16, a platform 18 and a post 20.

Base 16 includes a generally cylindrical member 16a and a connector portion 16b (FIG. 2). Cylindrical member 16a has a peripheral outer wall 17, first and second ends, 19, 21 and an axial bore 22 therethrough. A pair of spaced-apart bushings 24, 26 and associated bearings 28, 30 are disposed within bore 22. Bushings 24, 26 are located proximate a recessed area in each of first and second ends 19, 21 of base 16. First and second end caps 32, 34 are provided to engage first and second ends 19, 21 respectively, and to enclose bushings 24, 26 within bore 22.

Cylindrical member 16a is secured to hitch 12 by way of a plurality of plates and bars which constitute the connector portion 16b of base 16. Connector portion 16b includes one or more flanges 40 and plates 41, a crossbar 70, a tie-bar 43, a flange 71, a second plate 75 and an actuating arm 44. Flanges 40 extend outwardly from the peripheral outer wall 17 of cylindrical member 16a, proximate second end 21 thereof. Flanges 40 are pivotally secured to a pair of plates 41 by a pin 60. Plates 41 connect to crossbar 70 which is disposed substantially at right angles thereto. Tie-bar 43 extends vertically upwardly away from a central portion of crossbar 70 and flange 71 is welded to an upper end of tie-bar 43 and is disposed substantially at right angles thereto. Second plate 75 extends outwardly from tie-bar 43 intermediate crossbar 70 and flange 71. A first end of actuating arm 44 is pivotally connected by a fastener 79 to said second plate 75. A second end of actuating arm 44 is pivotally secured by a pin 46 to cylindrical member 16a, proximate a first end 19 thereof. Actuating arm 44 includes a hydraulic cylinder and a piston rod 64. The hydraulic connections for actuating arm 44 are not shown in the attached figures for the sake of clarity.

The platform 18 of the lifting and supporting apparatus 10 is positioned immediately above first end cap 32 of cylindrical member 16a. Platform 18 is oriented substantially at right angles to the cylindrical member 16a and is substantially circular in shape. Platform 18 includes a planar surface 52 that is of a diameter greater than the diameter of cylindrical portion 16a base 16. An aperture 50 is provided in the center of platform 18 and is sized to receive post 20 therethrough. A plurality of strengthening ribs 54 are provided on the underside of platform 18. Ribs 54 radiate outwardly away from the center of platform 18 and are substantially triangular in shape, with the apex of the triangle being disposed proximate the peripheral outer edge of platform 18. The base of the triangle is disposed proximate the aperture 50 in platform 18.

Post 20 is an elongated cylindrical member that preferably comprises a plurality of threadably engageable sections, such as 20a, 20b, and 20c (FIG. 1). Seconds 20a, 20b and 20c may be selectively added or removed to create of post of selectively variable length. Post 20 has a substantially bulbous terminal end 58. Terminal end 58 is generally rounded in shape and has a maximum diameter that is greater than the diameter of post 20. Post 20 extends through aperture 50 in platform 18, through aligned apertures (not numbered) in first end cap 22, through bushings 24 and 26. A second end 20c of post 20 abuts an interior surface of second end cap 24. A threaded bolt 36 is inserted through an aperture (not numbered) in second end cap 24 and into second end 20c of post 20, thereby securing post 20 within base 16. Bushings 24, 26 and their associated bearings permit post 20 to rotate within base 20. It will be understood, however, that post 20 may alternatively be fixedly mounted within base 16. Platform 18 preferably is fixedly secured to post 20 so that platform 18 is substantially prevented from sliding up or down on post 20 as apparatus 10 is maneuvered by hitch 12. Furthermore, platform 18 preferably is secured to post 20 in such a manner that platform 18 rotates in unison with post 20 when a section of fencing 56 is rolled off roll 48. Alternatively, though not shown, platform 18 may be fixedly secured to base 16 so that platform 18 remains stationary when post 20 rotates within base 16 in response to roll 48 being unwound. Alternatively, though not shown, post 20 may be fixedly attached to base 16 and platform 18 is mounted for rotation about post 18 when roll 48 is unwound.

The apparatus 10 of the present invention is used in the following manner. Apparatus 10 is secured to three-point hitch 12 on a tractor 14 by securing crossbar 70 of portion 16b of base 16 to lower links 42 of hitch 12 using fasteners 45. Flange 71 is secured to an end of rod 68 of upper link 66 by a pin 69. The first position of apparatus 10 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. In the first position, apparatus 10 is secured to hitch 12 and post 20 is disposed substantially vertically. The operator activates actuating arm 44 of hitch 12, causing piston rod 64 to be extended in length (FIG. 4). As piston rod 64 is extended, apparatus 10 pivots about pin 60 causing base 16, platform 18 and post 20 to be rotated in an arc away from the rear end of tractor 14 as indicated by arrow “A” (FIG. 4). When piston rod 64 is fully extended (FIG. 4), surface 52 of platform 18 is substantially perpendicular to the ground 74. In this second position, post 20 extends rearwardly and substantially horizontally away from tractor 14 and is disposed substantially parallel to ground 74. The operator then reverses tractor 14 in the direction of arrow “B” toward roll 48 so that the bulbous end 58 of post 20 is inserted into bore 76 of roll 48. Tractor 14 is reversed until the bulbous end 58 lies outwardly beyond end 48a of the roll 48. The operator activates actuating arm 44 in a reverse direction, causing piston rod 64 to be retracted into cylinder 62 in the direction of arrow “C” (FIG. 5). As piston rod 64 retracts, base 16 rotates in the opposite direction about pivot pin 60. This causes post 20, with the now-captured roll 48, to be arcuately lifted off ground 74 in the direction of arrow “D”. When piston rod 64 is in its fully retracted position (FIG. 6), post 20 is in the first position and is, once again, positioned substantially vertically relative to ground 74. The second end 48b of roll 48 rests on and is supported by surface 52 of platform 18. In this first position, roll 48 is fully supported upon platform 18 and terminal end 58 of post extends vertically out of roll 48.

Referring to FIG. 6, the installer then secures a free end 56a of the wire fencing 56 to a fence post 78 that is secured within the ground 74. The operator drives the tractor 14 slowly forward in the direction of arrow “E”. This movement causes roll 48 to rotate. It will be understood that platform 18 may rotate with roll 48, post 20 may rotate with roll 48, or both platform 18 and post may rotate with the roll 48. The rotation causes a section of fencing 56 to become unrolled from roll 48. When a sufficient length of fencing 56 has unrolled, the operator stops tractor 14 and secures that portion of fencing 56 to a second fence post (not shown) that is spaced a distance from first fence post 78. The operator then drives the tractor 14 forward yet again in the direction of arrow “E”, allowing a second length of fencing 56 to unroll from roll 48. At a second predetermined point, tractor 14 is stopped again, the operator secures the second section of fencing 56 to a third fence post (not shown) and so on.

When sufficient fencing 56 has been dispensed from roll 48 and the fencing is fully installed as described above, the operator cuts the installed fencing free from roll 48 using conventional wire cutters, for example. Tractor 14 is then driven to a storage facility with roll 48 held on the vertically oriented post 20. Roll 48 is then lowered back into contact with the ground by activating the actuating arm 44 of hitch 12 to extend the piston rod 64 in the opposite direction of arrow “C” (FIG. 5). This causes post 20 and associated roll 48 to be moved from the first position to the second position, thereby rotating post 20 from a vertical orientation downwardly toward the ground in the opposite direction to arrow “D”. When the post 20 is in the second position and is disposed substantially horizontally and roll 48 is in abutting contact with the ground, tractor 14 is moved forwardly away from roll 48. This causes post 20 with its bulbous end 58 to be withdrawn from within bore 76 of roll 48. Actuating arm 44 of hitch 12 is activated so that post 20 is rotated back from the second position to the first position. The apparatus 10 may be completely detached from tractor 14 by removing pins 46 and 60.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

Claims

1. An apparatus for lifting and supporting a tubular roll of wire fencing during installation of said fencing; said apparatus comprising:

a base adapted to be pivotably connected to a three-point hitch on a vehicle;

a post extending outwardly away from the base and adapted to be received through a bore in said tubular roll; and wherein said base is movable upon activation of said hitch between a first position where the post is vertically oriented, and a second position where the post is horizontally oriented.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the post is rotatably mounted to the base.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the base defines a bore therein and a first end of the post is received within the bore of the base.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the base is substantially cylindrical in shape, having a peripheral wall and first and second ends; and wherein said bore in said base extends between the first and second ends thereof.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4, further comprising at least one set of bushings disposed within the bore of the base between said post and said peripheral wall.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, further comprising first and second end caps provided on the first and second ends of the base; and wherein a first end of the post is secured to the first end and said post extends outwardly through said second end cap and terminates in a remote terminal end.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the terminal end of the post is substantially rounded.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the post is of a first diameter and the terminal end thereof is of a second diameter, and the second diameter is greater than the first diameter.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 6, further comprising at least one bushing, said bushing being disposed within the bore of the base and proximate one of the first and second end caps.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the post is variable in length.

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the post comprises a plurality of elongated sections that are selectively attachable one to another to vary the length of the post.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a platform disposed on one of the base and post; said platform being oriented so as to support an end of the tubular roll of fencing thereon when the post is received through the bore in the roll.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the platform is disposed substantially at right angles to the post.

14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the post is rotatably secured to the base and the platform is fixedly secured to the post; whereby the platform is rotatable with the post.

15. The apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the platform is secured to the post a spaced distance away from the base.

16. The apparatus as defined in claim 15, further comprising a central aperture formed in the platform; and wherein said post extends through the central aperture therein.

17. The apparatus as defined in claim 16, further comprising a plurality of ribs formed on the platform, said ribs radiating outwardly away from the central aperture in the platform.

18. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising a first flange extending outwardly away from the base; and wherein said first flange is adapted to pivotally engage a first link of the three-point hitch on the vehicle.

19. The apparatus as defined in claim 18, further comprising a second flange extending outwardly away from the base a spaced distance from the first flange; and wherein the second flange is adapted to pivotally engage a hydraulic cylinder on the three-point hitch.

20. A method of installing wire fencing that is retained on a roll having a bore therethrough; said method comprising the steps of:

a. attaching a roll-retaining apparatus to a three-point hitch of a vehicle;

b. inserting a post on the roll-retaining apparatus into the bore of the roll of fencing;

c. activating the hitch to rotate the roll-retaining apparatus so that the post thereof is vertically oriented;

d. connecting a free end of the wire fencing to a fence post that extends outwardly from the ground;

e. moving the vehicle away from the fence post so as to unwind a section of fencing from the roll.

21. The method as defined in claim 20, wherein the step of inserting the post of the roll-retaining apparatus into the bore of the roll includes the steps of:

positioning the roll of fencing horizontally on a surface;

activating the hitch to orient the post of the roll-retaining apparatus horizontally; and

moving the vehicle toward the roll of fencing to introduce the post thereof into the bore of the roll.

22. The method as defined in claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

securing the unwound section of fencing between two fence posts;

cutting the secured section of fencing free from the fencing on the roll;

activating the hitch to orient the post of the roll-retaining apparatus horizontally; and

moving the vehicle away from the roll of fencing to remove the post thereof from the bore of the roll.