GB1022241A - Vibratory pile driver - Google Patents

Abstract

1,022,241. Pile driving. A. G. BODINE. Nov. 19, 1962, No. 43551/62. Heading E1H. [Also in Division F2] A pile driver comprises a mechanical oscillator 42, Fig. 6 (not shown), providing a vertical vibrating output to a pile P through a coupling 40, post 125, 126 and column 41. The oscillator is driven by two I.C. engines 44 through shafts 45, Fig. 2 (not shown), shafts 86 and 96, Fig. 6, bevel gear 192, ring gear 200, telescopic sleeve 211, ring gear 221 and bevel gears 222 which are coupled to drive belt assemblies 250 and oscillator input shafts 265. The machine part R containing the oscillator, Fig. 2, is tiltable in trunnions 76, Fig. 6, by pneumatic cylinders 550, so that a pile may be picked up from the horizontal position, and the part R together with the engines 44 are supported by a beam structure, 47, 48, 49, 54 and 56 on columns 35 of a conventional tracked vehicle pile driving jig. The weight of the equipment excluding the oscillator 42 parts 40, 125, 126 and 41 is supported by an air spring 154, Fig. 6, which comprises two pressure chambers 140 and a piston 124 connected between the members 125, 126 so that vibration is not transmitted to the air spring housing and parts support thereon. Arcuate splines on the oscillator input shaft 265 allow for angular vibration of the shaft. Tilting of the pile together with the parts 40, 125, 126, 41 and oscillator 42 is accommodated by arcuate bearing rings 174 and 176, Fig. 6, and the part 171 of the supporting plate 111 which is joined to the trunnions 76 through a frusto-conical plate 108. Any tendency for the pile to twist during driving is increased by the reaction of the ring gear 221 driving the assemblies 250 which exerts a torque on the frame 233, keyed to the oscillator 42, causing it to rotate on bearings 235 and 240. The machine is hoisted or lowered on the columns 35 by a cable connected to the pulley block 69 and a downward biasing force can be applied by a cable 467 connected at one end to the supporting frame at 460 and at the other end to a power winch on the control vehicle, provision being made for adding ballast weight to the pile driver, e.g. by filling the columns 35 with water. One driving engine only may be used. The equipment may be used for pile extraction.