US 12,215,480 B2
Reciprocating impact hammer
Angus Robson, Matamata (NZ)
Assigned to Terminator IP Limited, Matamata (NZ)
Filed by Terminator IP Limited, Matamata (NZ)
Filed on Mar. 27, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/190,528.
Application 18/190,528 is a continuation of application No. 17/321,795, filed on May 17, 2021, granted, now 11,613,869.
Application 17/321,795 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/765,975, granted, now 11,008,730, issued on May 18, 2021, previously published as PCT/NZ2016/050164, filed on Oct. 5, 2016.
Claims priority of application No. 712986 (NZ), filed on Oct. 5, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2023/0279637 A1, Sep. 7, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E02F 3/96 (2006.01); E02F 5/30 (2006.01); E02F 9/22 (2006.01)
CPC E02F 3/966 (2013.01) [E02F 5/305 (2013.01); E02F 9/22 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An impact hammer for breaking a working surface, the impact hammer comprising:
a housing with at least one inner side wall forming at least part of a containment surface;
a drive mechanism;
a reciprocating hammer weight, at least partially located within the housing, with the reciprocating hammer weight capable of reciprocating along a reciprocation axis, wherein a reciprocation cycle of the reciprocating hammer weight, when the reciprocation axis is on an approximately vertical axis, comprises:
a) an up-stroke, during which the drive mechanism moves the reciprocating hammer weight upwards along the reciprocation axis; and
b) a down-stroke, during which the reciprocating hammer weight moves downwards along the reciprocation axis;
a striker pin having a driven end and a working surface impact end, the striker pin located within the housing such that the working surface impact end protrudes from the housing;
a shock-absorber coupled to the striker pin; and
a variable volume vacuum chamber comprising:
a) at least a portion of the containment surface;
b) at least one upper vacuum sealing coupled to the reciprocating hammer weight;
c) at least one lower vacuum sealing; and
at least one down-stroke vent, operable to permit fluid egress from the variable volume vacuum chamber during at least part of the down-stroke;
wherein the variable volume vacuum chamber is configured to have a sub-atmospheric pressure during at least part of the up-stroke such that the reciprocating hammer weight is driven toward the striker pin by a pressure differential between an atmosphere and the sub-atmospheric pressure during the down-stroke, and
wherein said at least one upper vacuum sealing comprises one or more seals, said one or more seals comprising:
an exterior first layer, formed with a first layer exterior surface configured and oriented to come into at least partial sliding contact with the containment surface during a reciprocating movement of the reciprocating hammer weight, and
an interior second layer, located between the exterior first layer and the reciprocating hammer weight, the interior second layer at least partially formed from a shock-absorbing material.