Geo-strap pulling apparatus for building mechanically stabilized earth walls
View Patent ↗A geo-strap pulling apparatus for building mechanically stabilized earth walls includes a frame having a stationary lower section secured to a support surface, a dynamic upper section operably coupled to a stationary lower section, a drive wheel rotatably attached to the frame, a powered actuated implement removably and operably coupled to the drive wheel for spinning the drive wheel about a first fulcrum axis, a driven wheel rotatably attached to the frame and being selectively and operably engaged with the drive wheel for creating a wedge therebetween, and a top handle rotatably attached to a dynamic upper section and being coupled to the driven wheel. The top handle and the dynamic upper section are contemporaneously and selectively pivoted about a second fulcrum axis and configured to adjust a vertical position of the driven wheel relative to the drive wheel.
1 . A geo-strap pulling apparatus for building mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls, comprising:
a frame having
a stationary lower section secured to a support surface, said stationary lower section having a central longitudinal axis,
a proximal end configured to receive a geo-strap from an exterior of said frame, and
a distal end configured to discharge the geo-strap at an unwound configuration; and
a dynamic upper section operably coupled to said stationary lower section;
a drive wheel rotatably attached to said frame;
a powered actuated implement removably and operably coupled to said drive wheel for spinning said drive wheel about a first fulcrum axis;
a driven wheel rotatably attached to said frame and being selectively and operably engaged with said drive wheel for creating a wedge therebetween; and
a top handle rotatably attached to said dynamic upper section and being directly coupled to said driven wheel, wherein said top handle and said dynamic upper section are contemporaneously and selectively pivoted about a second fulcrum axis and configured to adjust a vertical position of said driven wheel relative to said drive wheel;
wherein said powered actuated implement is portable and hand-operated and located externally of said frame;
wherein said top handle remains spaced from the geo-strap;
wherein said second fulcrum axis is located approximately midway between said proximal end and said distal end of said frame.
2 . The geo-strap pulling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said dynamic upper section is configured to allow the geo-strap to be freely inserted and removed between said drive wheel and said driven wheel.
3 . The geo-strap pulling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said dynamic upper section is selectively locked in an operating position and configured to rotatably engage said driven wheel to said drive wheel and thereby create a frictional force for pulling the geo-strap from said proximal end to said distal end of said frame.
4 . The geo-strap pulling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said frame further includes a non-linear travel path beginning from said proximal end and terminating at said distal end, said non-linear travel path passing between said drive wheel and said driven wheel.
5 . The geo-strap pulling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said drive wheel comprises: a first shaft operably having a first coupling attached thereto, said power actuated implement having a second coupling attached thereto and being operably affixed to said first coupling for articulating said drive wheel in a desired rotational direction.
6 . The geo-strap pulling apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said stationary lower frame comprises: a guide connected to said proximal end and generally aligned with the central longitudinal axis of said frame.
7 . The geo-strap pulling apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said driven wheel comprises: a second shaft oriented perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of said frame and parallel to said first shaft.
8 . The geo-strap pulling apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said dynamic upper section comprises:
a first support arm having a notch and being registered orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis and further being statically anchored to said stationary lower section;
a second support arm rotatably engaged with said second shaft; and
a third support arm rotatably engaged with said second shaft and said stationary lower section;
wherein said top handle is connected to said second support arm and said third support arm.
9 . The geo-strap pulling apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said second shaft is received within said notch when said driven wheel is frictionally engaged with said drive wheel.
10 . The geo-strap pulling apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said second shaft is displaced away from said notch when said driven wheel is pivoted away from said drive wheel.
11 . A geo-strap pulling apparatus for building mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls, comprising:
a free-standing frame having
a stationary lower section secured to a support surface, said stationary lower section having a central longitudinal axis,
a proximal end configured to receive a geo-strap from an exterior of said frame, and
a distal end configured to discharge the geo-strap at an unwound configuration; and
a dynamic upper section operably coupled to said stationary lower section;
a drive wheel rotatably attached to said frame;
a powered actuated implement removably and operably coupled to said drive wheel for spinning said drive wheel about a first fulcrum axis;
a driven wheel rotatably attached to said frame and being selectively and operably engaged with said drive wheel for creating a wedge therebetween; and
a top handle rotatably attached to said dynamic upper section and being directly coupled to said driven wheel, wherein said top handle and said dynamic upper section are contemporaneously and selectively pivoted about a second fulcrum axis and configured to adjust a vertical position of said driven wheel relative to said drive wheel;
wherein said powered actuated implement is portable and hand-operated and located externally of said frame;
wherein said top handle remains spaced from the geo-strap;
wherein said second fulcrum axis is located approximately midway between said proximal end and said distal end of said frame.
12 . The geo-strap pulling apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said dynamic upper section is configured to allow the geo-strap to be freely inserted and removed between said drive wheel and said driven wheel.
13 . The geo-strap pulling apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said dynamic upper section is selectively locked in an operating position and configured to rotatably engage said driven wheel to said drive wheel and thereby create a frictional force for pulling the geo-strap from said proximal end to said distal end of said frame.
14 . The geo-strap pulling apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said frame further includes a non-linear travel path beginning from said proximal end and terminating at said distal end, said non-linear travel path passing between said drive wheel and said driven wheel.
15 . The geo-strap pulling apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said drive wheel comprises: a first shaft operably having a first coupling attached thereto, said power actuated implement having a second coupling attached thereto and being operably affixed to said first coupling for articulating said drive wheel in a desired rotational direction.
16 . The geo-strap pulling apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said stationary lower frame comprises: a guide connected to said proximal end and generally aligned with the central longitudinal axis of said frame.
17 . The geo-strap pulling apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said driven wheel comprises: a second shaft oriented perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of said frame and parallel to said first shaft.
18 . The geo-strap pulling apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said dynamic upper section comprises:
a first support arm having a notch and being registered orthogonal to the central longitudinal axis and further being statically anchored to said stationary lower section;
a second support arm rotatably engaged with said second shaft; and
a third support arm rotatably engaged with said second shaft and said stationary lower section;
wherein said top handle is connected to said second support arm and said third support arm.
19 . The geo-strap pulling apparatus of claim 18 , wherein said second shaft is received within said notch when said driven wheel is frictionally engaged with said drive wheel; wherein said second shaft is displaced away from said notch when said driven wheel is pivoted away from said drive wheel.
20 . A geo-strap pulling apparatus for building mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls, comprising:
a free-standing frame configured to be positioned on a support surface and having
a stationary lower section secured to the support surface, said stationary lower section having a central longitudinal axis,
a proximal end configured to receive a geo-strap from an exterior of said frame; and
a distal end configured to discharge the geo-strap at an unwound configuration; and
a dynamic upper section operably coupled to said stationary lower section;
a drive wheel rotatably attached to said frame;
a powered actuated implement removably and operably coupled to said drive wheel for spinning said drive wheel about a first fulcrum axis;
a driven wheel rotatably attached to said frame and being selectively and operably engaged with said drive wheel for creating a wedge therebetween; and
a top handle rotatably attached to said dynamic upper section and being directly coupled to said driven wheel, wherein said top handle and said dynamic upper section are contemporaneously and selectively pivoted about a second fulcrum axis and configured to adjust a vertical position of said driven wheel relative to said drive wheel;
wherein said drive wheel and said driven wheel are elevated above the support surface;
wherein said powered actuated implement is portable and hand-operated and located externally of said frame;
wherein said top handle remains spaced from the geo-strap;
wherein said second fulcrum axis is located approximately midway between said proximal end and said distal end of said frame.