Lubrication system

Abstract

An agricultural machine (100) includes a post driver which has at least one first section (282) and at least one second section (280), wherein at least one of the first section (282) and second section (280) is movable relative to the other of the first (282) or second (280) section and the first section (282) is provided with at least one lubrication or greasing port (288) and the second section (280) is provided with at least one lubricating or greasing aperture (286). Optionally, the at least one lubrication or greasing aperture (286) and the at least one lubrication port (288) are movable relative to one another so as at least in one disposition to be aligned in communication with one another. One or more of the sections may be an elongate I-beam or H-beam (282).

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO POST DRIVERSFIELD OF INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to agricultural machines or apparatus and more specifically to post drivers, for example, for driving posts such as fence posts into the ground. The invention particularly relates to post drivers having telescopic apparatus, such as a telescopic mast. The invention also relates to a means and method of lubricating such telescopic apparatus.BACKGROUND OF INVENTIONPost drivers usually consist of a vertical pillar or column guiding a falling weight that is lifted by hydraulic power from, for example, a tractor on which the post driver is mounted. A small ram, working through a lifting mechanism, may pull a rope over a pulley at the top of the pillar or column so as to lift the weight in order that it may then be dropped onto a post.However, existing post drivers suffer from a number of disadvantages. For example, existing post drivers have difficulty in driving posts in difficult ground conditions. In addition, to properly align existing post drivers, a connected tractor needs to be moved backwards PG42 998 1GBZ and forwards to correctly position the post driver. Such movement of the tractor can lead to excessive clutch wear. In swinging arm type mechanisms, the side shift needs to be used every time the arm is moved forwards or backwards. It is also difficult to obtain small movements of the tractor on uneven ground.GB 2 423 549 A, also by the same Applicant, discloses an improved post driver. The post driver comprises: a frame supported on a plurality of legs; a mast adapted to allow a weighted member to travel substantially up and down; wherein there are positioning means provided to enable the position of the mast to be optimised and adapted for alignment with a post to be driven; wherein the mast is telescopic; and the post driver comprises a plurality of pulleys allowing the post driver to be adapted to be used with different heights of post.GB 2 423 549 A discloses telescopic members for a back shift and for a side shift of the post driver. The present Inventor has identified that this may give rise to problems.GB 2 420 367 A (BRENNAN and BRENNAN) discloses a post driver comprising: PG42 998 1GBZ a three point linkage mounting means for securing the support frame to the three point linkage of a tractor; a main mast mounted on the support frame; a support mast slidably mounted on the main mast; a pile driving hammer slidably mounted on a hammer guide rail on the support mast; a pulley adjacent the upper free end of the support mast; a flexible connector connected to the hammer and to the main mast via the pulley; a hydraulic ram connected between the support mast and the pulley for raising the mast; and a post holder comprising a flat plate carrying a depending post engaging spike, the plate fast on a support member, slidably mounted on the main mast.It is an object of at least one embodiment of at least one aspect of the present invention to obviate or at least mitigate at least one or more of the aforementioned problems.It is an object of at least one embodiment of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide a post driver which provides improved characteristics overthe prior art.PG42 998 1GBZ It is an object of at least one embodiment of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide a post driver having an improved telescopic mount, e.g. having improved lubrication means.StThRY OF INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an agricultural machine, such as or comprising a post driver, comprising at least one first section and at least one second section, wherein at least one of the first section and second section is movable relative to the other of the first or second section and the first section is provided with at least one lubrication or greasing port and the second section is provided with at least one lubricating or greasing aperture.The at least one lubrication or greasing aperture and the at least one lubrication port may be movable relative to one another so as at least in one disposition to be in communication with one another.Preferably and advantageously, the at least one lubrication or greasing aperture is alignable with the at least one lubrication or greasing port so as to receive grease therefrom.PG42 998 1GBZ The first and second sections may be elongate, and may be substantially vertically disposed, in use.The at least one first and second sections may be sections of at least one telescopic means.At least one of the first section and second section may be slidable relative to the other of the first and / or second section.The lubrication or greasing aperture may be a through aperture such that lubricant or grease is receivable from the or a respective at least one lubrication or grease port, through the lubrication or greasing aperture to a side of the second section opposite the grease port.The first section may comprise at least one first guide member and at least one second guide member.The second section may comprise at least one insert member.The first and second guide members may be arranged to receive the at least one insert member therebetween.The or each lubrication or greasing port(s) may be provided in the first guide member.The aperture(s) may be provided in the insert member.The or each lubrication or greasing port(s) may be arranged to provide lubricant or grease through the first PG42 998 1GBZ guide member to an interface between the first guide member and the insert member.The at least one aperture may be arranged to provide lubricant or grease through the at least one insert member to another interface between the insert member and the second guide member.The at least one telescopic means may be a mast.The first section may comprise at lest two parallel guide panels mounted together with a cross panel.The second section may at least partially comprise two channel members. Each channel member may be a half box section having an end wall with a perpendicularly extending side wall at each end of the end wall. The channel members may be mounted apart and arranged such that the side wall sections of each channel member extend towards the corresponding side wall sections of the other channel member so as to form a hollow box section having a slot at least partially down each of two facing sides.The first section may be arranged to slidably mount with respect to the second section such that the cross panel is located through the slot on one side of the box section and the first panels is mounted on an outer side of the box section whilst the second guide panel is mounted within the box section.PG42 998 1GBZ The first guide panel may each form the first guide member.The second guide panel may form the second guide member.At least one end wall of at least one channel section may form an insert member.According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of lubricating or greasing an agricultural machine, such as or comprising a post driver, having at least one first section and at least one second section, wherein at least one of the first section and second section is movable relative to the other of the first or second section and the first section is provided with at least one lubricating or greasing port and the second section is provided with at least one lubricating or greasing aperture, the method comprising disposing the at least one lubrication or greasing aperture relative to the or the respective at least one lubrication or greasing port so as to provide lubricant or grease from the at least one lubricant or greasing port into the respective lubrication or greasing aperture.Preferably, the step of disposing comprising aligning the at least one lubrication or greasing PG42 998 1GBZ aperture with the respective lubrication or greasing port for receiving lubrication or grease.Providing lubricant or grease into the or each aperture may involve providing lubricant or grease via the lubrication or greasing port through the or each aperture from a first side of the second section to at least a second side of the second section in order to grease at least the second side.The method may further comprise moving the first section relative to the second section such that the greasing ports are not aligned with the apertures and providing grease through the greasing ports in order to grease an interface between the first section and the first side of the second section.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGSEmbodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are: Figure 1 a view from one side of a post driver according to the prior art; Figure 2 a view from another side of the post driver of Figure 1; PG42 998 1GBZ Figure 3 a rear view of the post driver of Figure 1; Figure 4 a front view of the post driver of Figure 1; Figure 5 a top view of the post driver of Figure 1; Figure 6 a partial front view of the post driver of Figure 1 in operation; Figure 7 a partial side view of the post driver of Figure 1; Figure 8 the post driver of Figure 1 in a first position connected to a tractor; Figure 9 the post driver of Figure 1 in a second position connected to a tractor; Figures 10 simplified side view of a side shift of the post driver of Figure 1; Figure 11 a perspective view of a telescopic mast according to a first embodiment of the present invention; PG42 998 1GBZ Figure 12 a simplified perspective view of a fixed beam mast section of the post driver of Figure 11; Figures 13 a simplified perspective view of a moveable beam mast section of the post driver of Figure 11; Figures 14 a simplified planar sectional view of the mast of the post driver of Figure 11 Figure 15 a detail view of a grease nipple of the mast of Figure 11; Figure 16 a detail view of an aperture of the mast of Figure 11; and Figure 17 is a twin-pulley post driver to which the lubrication system of Figure 11 may be applied.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGSReferring initially to Figures 1 to 5, there is shown a post driver, generally designated 100, according to the prior art. The post driver 100 comprises three legs 102, 104, 106. Leg 104 is a parking leg, and is used to stabilise the post driver 100 when parked. As shown in Figure 1, the legs 102, 104, 106 also comprise skid pads 108, 110, 112 which provide a stable platform PG42 998 1GBZ for the post driver 100 to operate on. The skids 108, 110, 112 help to prevent the post driver 100 from becoming bogged down' in damp conditions. The legs 102, 104, 106 are hydraulically operated and may be adjusted to any required level.Figure 1 also shows that the post driver 100 comprises a counterbalance 114 which helps to stabilise the post driver 100 during use. Of a similar size to the counterbalance 114, and as shown in Figure 1, there is a hitting hammer 116 which moves up and down along a mast 117. The hitting hammer 116 is connected to a pulley 119 via a rope 121. The rope 121 is connected to driving means in the post driver 100 which provides the driving force for the post driver 100.Figure 2 which is a view of the other side of the post driver 100 shown in Figure 1, clearly shows that there are two receiving members 118 within which pallet forks from a forklift truck may be inserted allowing the post driver 100 to be easily lifted.Figures 6 and 7 show operation of a back shift of the post driver 100. The back shift controls movement of the post driver 100 fore and aft. Figure 6 shows the hitting hammer 116 positioned slightly above a post cap 126. The back shift comprises telescopic means which comprises two back shift inner sliding members 122 which PG42 998 1GBZ are moveable in and out of back shift (receiving) members 123. A hydraulic cylinder 124 operates the back shift.Figure 6 also shows the hydraulic controls 120 which are used to obtain the necessary adjustment in the positioning of the mast 117.Figure 6 shows a post 125 out of alignment with the mast 117. The post 125 will not be properly driven in using this incorrect alignment. To obtain a correct alignment of the post 125 with the mast 117 the back shift of the post driver 100 is operated with the effect that the back shift inner sliding members 122 are moved slightly into the receiving members 123. As shown in Figure 7 once the back shift has been operated the post is now in substantial alignment with the mast 117, thereby allowing the post driver 100 to operate in a required manner. This is an important function of the post driver 100 as this allows the post 125 to be correctly aligned with the mast 117 without the need to move a tractor -e.g. to which the post driver 100 is mounted or hitched. Small movements of a tractor can be extremely difficult -especially so on uneven ground -and can also lead to excessive clutch wear.A side shift (not shown) of the post driver 100 is of a similar telescopic nature to the back shift. The PG42 998 1GBZ side shift controls movement of the post driver side to side.The side shift comprises inner (sliding) members 128 and outer members 129. The side shift allows the mast 117 to be pulled out to a position where a post 125 is to be driven in. The side shift is activated by another hydraulic cylinder.By using the back shift and the side shift, it is possible to obtain complete movement of the mast 117 to thereby allow the mast 117 to be correctly positioned with a post 125 without the need for moving a tractor.Referring to Figure 10, the side shift comprises at least one, and in this embodiment, a pair of telescopic members. The telescopic members each comprise an outer member 129 and an inner member 128, the inner member being slidable in and out relative to the outer member 129. One of the inner members 128 is attached to a tilt ram support bracket 136. The inner members 128 are connected together at ends thereof by a cross member 128'.The outer member(s) 129 is / are tubular, and in this embodiment of rectilinear (box) cross-section. The inner members 128 fits within the inner bore of the outer member 129 and are slidable therewithin. The inner PG42 998 1GBZ member(s) 128 are in this embodiment of rectilinear (box) cross-section, and are also beneficially tubular.Figure 11 shows a detail view of a mast 217 of a post driver according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The post driver is similar to the post driver 100 of Figures 1 to 10 in many respects, like parts being designated by like numerals, but incremented by "100".The mast 217 of the post driver comprises a fixed beam 280 and a movable beam 282 slidably mounted to the fixed beam 280 such that is movable up and down channels 284a, 284b of the fixed beam 280.As shown in Figure 12, the fixed beam 280 is formed from two channels 284a, 284b. The channels 284a, 284b are fabricated into the design and face each other.Holes 286 of approximately 20mm in diameter are drilled in each channel and arranged such that the holes 286 are alignable with grease nipples 288 in the moveable beam 282. In alternative embodiments, the holes may be slots or be of other diameters. The holes 286 allow grease to pass through to the other side of the moveable beam 282.The holes 286 also act as a reservoir for holding grease.By aligning the holes 286 with the grease nipples 288, grease provided into the grease nipples 288 is able to PG42 998 1GBZ pass through the fixed beam 280 to lubricate the other (back) side 290 of the fixed beam 280.As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the moveable beam 282 comprises an H-beam having two side members 292, 294 joined in the centre by a cross member 296 to form two cavities 298, 300. The beam has an "H" cross-section.An angle iron 302 is welded into each of the cavities 298, 300 of the H-beam to form two slides 304 for receiving the channels 284a, 284b of the fixed beam 280 and guiding the moveable beam 282 as it slides up and down the channels 284a, 284b of the fixed beam 280.Each angle iron 302 has a backplate 306 with a side member 308 projecting from each end of the backplate 306.The backplate 306 of each angle iron 302 is welded to the cross member 296 of the H-beam such that the side members 308 of the angle irons 302 are parallel with and spaced apart from the side members 292, 294 of the H-beam to leave a gap 310 sized to receive the channel walls 284a, 284b of the fixed beam 280.In this way, slides 304 are formed to guide the motion of the moveable beam 282 as it slides on the fixed beam 280, as shown in Figure 14.The moveable beam 282 is provided with grease nipples 288 in the outer surfaces of side members 292, 294 of the H-beam. When the moveable beam 282 is at its PG42 998 1GBZ lowest position on the fixed beam 280, the grease nipples 288 on the moveable beam 282 are arranged to align with the holes 286 in the fixed beam 280.A detailed view of the grease nipples 288 is shown in Figure 15 and a detailed view of the holes 286 is shown in Figure 16.Referring back to Fig. 14, when greasing takes place using the grease nipples 288 with the moveable beam 282 at rest in its lowest position, the grease enters the holes 286 in the fixed beam 280 and can penetrate through to the other side of the fixed beam 280, which guides the moveable beam up and down the mast 217. There is a left and a right side. Part of the slides 304 cannot be fitted with grease nipples 288 because it is inaccessible due to the design of the mast 217. This invention sets out to provide a means of lubricating the inaccessible part of the slide 304 whereby the holes 286 provide an access route for the grease as well as a reservoir where the hole 286 can be full of grease.To lubricate the other side 312 of the slide the moveable beam 282 is lifted to a point e.g. approx.midway between the holes 286 drilled in the fixed beam 280. When applying grease to the nipples 288 in this state, the grease lubricates the accessible side of the slide rails for the moveable beam 282 only as there is no PG42 998 1GBZ means of the grease being able to access the inaccessible side of the slide rail as there is no hole 286 there.It will be appreciated that the embodiments of the present invention are given by way of example only, and are not meant to be limiting to the scope thereof in any way. For example, the mast may comprise one or more pulleys. Provision of multiple pulleys allows the mast to be adapted for use with different heights of posts to be hammered into the ground, such that, in one example the mast is a twin or multiple pulley mast having a lubrication system as defined above.PG42 998 1GBZ

Claims

CLPJMS1. An agricultural machine, such as or comprising a post driver, comprising at least one first section and at least one second section, wherein at least one of the first section and second section is movable relative to the other of the first or second section and the first section is provided with at least one lubrication or greasing port and the second section is provided with at least one lubricating or greasing aperture.

2. An agricultural machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one lubrication or greasing aperture and the at least one lubrication port are movable relative to one another so as at least in one disposition to be in communication with one another.

3. An agricultural machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the at least one lubrication or greasing aperture is alignable with the at least one lubrication or greasing port so as to receive grease therefrom.

4. An agricultural machine according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second sections are elongate and substantially vertically disposed, in use.PG42 998 1GBZ 5. An agricultural machine according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one first and second sections are sections of at least one telescopic means.

6. An agricultural machine according to claim 5, wherein the at least one telescopic means is a mast.

7. An agricultural machine according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the first section and second section are slidable relative to the other of the first and / or second section.

8. An agricultural machine according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lubrication or greasing aperture is a through aperture such that lubricant or grease is receivable from the or a respective at least one lubrication or grease port, through the lubrication or greasing aperture to a side of the second section opposite the grease port.

9. An agricultural machine according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first section comprises at least one first guide member and at least one second guide member and / or the second section comprises at least one insert member.PG42 998 1GBZ 10. An agricultural machine according to claim 9, wherein the first and second guide members are arranged to receive the at least one insert member therebetween.

11. An agricultural machine according to claim 10, wherein the or each lubrication or greasing port(s) is provided in the first guide member and / or the aperture(s) are provided in the insert member.

12. An agricultural machine according to any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the or each lubrication or greasing port(s) are arranged to provide lubricant or grease through the first guide member to an interface between the first guide member and the insert member.

13. An agricultural machine according to claim 12, wherein the at least one aperture is arranged to provide lubricant or grease through the at least one insert member to another interface between the insert member and the second guide member.

14. An agricultural machine according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first section comprises at lest two parallel guide panels mounted together with a PG42 998 1GBZ cross panel and / or the second section at least partially comprises two channel members.

15. An agricultural machine according to claim 14, wherein each channel member comprises a half box section having an end wall with a perpendicularly extending side wall at each end of the end wall and / or the channel members are mounted apart and arranged such that the side wall sections of each channel member extend towards the corresponding side wall sections of the other channel member so as to form a hollow box section having a slot at least partially down each of two facing sides.

16. An agricultural machine according to claim 15, wherein the first section may be arranged to slidably mount with respect to the second section such that the cross panel is located through the slot on one side of the box section and the first panels is mounted on an outer side of the box section whilst the second guide panel is mounted within the box section.

17. A method of lubricating or greasing an agricultural machine, such as or comprising a post driver, having at least one first section and at least one second section, wherein at least one of the first section and second section is movable relative to the other of the first or PG42 998 1GBZ second section and the first section is provided with at least one lubricating or greasing port and the second section is provided with at least one lubricating or greasing aperture, the method comprising disposing the at least one lubrication or greasing aperture relative to the or the respective at least one lubrication or greasing port so as to provide lubricant or grease from the at least one lubricant or greasing port into the respective lubrication or greasing aperture.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the step of disposing comprises aligning the at least one lubrication or greasing aperture with the respective lubrication or greasing port for receiving lubrication or grease.

19. A method according to claim 17 or claim 18, wherein providing lubricant or grease into the or each aperture may comprise providing lubricant or grease via the lubrication or greasing port through the or each aperture from a first side of the second section to at least a second side of the second section in order to grease at least the second side.

20. A method according to any of claims 17 to 19, comprising moving the first section relative to the second section such that the greasing ports are not PG42 998 1GBZ aligned with the apertures and providing grease through the greasing ports in order to grease an interface between the first section and the first side of the second section.PG42 998 1GBZ