GB2351312A - Extension arm, for an excavator boom, with attachment means for a pile driving hammer - Google Patents

Abstract

An elongate extension arm [10] is attached to the boom [29] of a mechanical excavator [30] by an attachment means [14]. The arm [10] also has a further attachment means [12] to which a piling hammer is attached. With the extension arm [10] fitted to the boom [29] of the excavator [30], the potential working height of the piling hammer is increased so that the excavator [30] can be used to drive piles which are longer than it would otherwise be capable of driving. The arm [10] may be formed from two straight portions [16, 18] of H-section steel, joined at an angle [A] of around 130{. The attachment means [12,14] may be quick-release, and may comprise holes and securing pins, or a hitch.

Description

2351312 IMPROVEMENTS IN-PILING The present invention relates to a device

and a method for use in piling; and in particular to an improvement whereby piles may be driven by easier and cheaper means than conventionally.

Pile driving is of great importance in the construction trade: piles are often driven into the ground in order to support foundations of a building. Typically piles are driven by means of a pile hammer, a heavy hammer which is supported above the pile and reciprocated in order to drive the pile into the ground. Generally, piles of up to 6 metres in length may be driven by means of a pile hammer attached to an arm of a mechanical excavator; while piles of over 6 metres in length may be driven by means of a pile hammer suspended by ropes or chains from a crane.

is This means that it is conventionally relatively expensive to drive longer piles: often a crane must be hired specifically for this task; then erected in a suitable place on site; and finally dismantled after use.

Further, many building sites may be unsuitable for installing a crane, or may be difficult for cranes to access.

On the other hand, many building sites already make use of mechanical excavators for many purposes, and so use of these for pile-driving is not so expensive. However, as noted above, due to the construction of mechanical excavators, use of these machines to drive piles of more than 6 metres is not normally feasible. Thus, it would be of great benefit if longer piles were capable of being 2 driven by conventional mechanical excavators.

It is an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention to alleviate or obviate these and other problems in the art.

This is conveniently achieved by the general solution of providing an extension arm mountable between a mechanical excavator and a pile hammer.

Thus, according to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for use in pile driving comprising an elongate arm including attachment means for attachment to a piling hammer. In use, the arm provides a greater elevation for use of a pile hammer, which may therefore be used with longer piles than otherwise.

is Preferably, the arm further comprises a second attachment' means for attachment to a mechanical excavator.

Preferably, at least one of the attachment means comprises a hitch. Preferably also, at least one of the attachment means comprises a quick release mechanism such as provided on a bucket for attachment to the excavator arm, and is as known in the art. This enables the arm to be rapidly and easily fastened to and removed from either or both of a mechanical excavator and a pile hammer.

Conveniently, at least one of the attachment means comprises a pin inserted through holes in the arm and either the pile hammer or the excavator.

Preferably, the arm comprises a plurality of sections.

Preferably the arm comprises two substantially straight sections joined at one angle. Preferably also, this angle 3 is an obtuse angle; most preferably around 1300.

Conveniently, the arm has an H-shaped cross-section.

Preferably, the arm is made from steel or the like.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for use in pile driving comprising an elongate arm attached to a pile hammer, the arm including attachment means for attachment to a mechanical excavator.

Preferably the elongate arm is releasably attached to the pile hammer; though the arm may be integrally formed therewith.

Preferably, the apparatus includes a mechanical excavator.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of mounting a pile hammer, the method comprising the interchangeable steps of:

mounting an elongate supporting arm on a mechanical excavator; and mounting a pile hammer on the elongate arm.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of driving a pile comprising:

mounting a pile hammer according to the third aspect; driving the pile by raising and lowering the piling hammer.

These and other aspects of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure 1 shows an elongate arm for use in pile driving according to a first aspect of the present invention; 4 Figure 2 shows the elongate arm attached to a pile hammer, according to a second aspect of the present invention; and Figure 3 shows the arm of Figure 1 mounted to a mechanical excavator.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, there is shown an elongate arm, generally designated 10, according to a first aspect of the present invention. The arm 10 includes a first attachment means 12, to which a pile hammer may be attached, and a second attachment means 14, whereby the arm may be mounted on a mechanical excavator. Each attachment means 12, 14 comprises a pair of openings (through holes) formed on facing walls 15, 17 of the arm 10, and through which pins (not shown) may be inserted in order to attach the relevant parts together.

The arm 10 is formed from two substantially straight portions 16, 18, fixed at an angle A of around 1300. It has been found that this angle provides good stability to the arm 10 with adequate height extension of the pile hammer.

The arm 10 is in this embodiment formed from steel, although it may be produced from any suitable material.

The steel is produced in the form of H-shaped girders, as may be seen from Figure 1.

Turning now to Figure 2, this shows the arm 10 of Figure 1 attached to a conventional pile hammer 20. A securing pin 22 has been passed through attachment means 12 of the arm 10 and corresponding holes 24 in the pile hammer 20. - Finally, Figure 3 shows the arm 10 of Figures 1 and 2 mounted on an arm 29 of a mechanical excavator30.

Attachment means 14 of the arm 10 comprises two pairs of holes which align with similar hole pairs 32 on bucket mounting portion 34 of the excavator 30. The arm 10 and excavator 30 are mounted together by means of pins 36 inserted through the holes 14, 32.

It can be seen from the figures that the present invention provides a simple and effective means whereby the height of an excavator -mounted pile hammer may be extended.

The arm 10 is designed to be mounted on the bucket mounting portion of an excavator, and so requires little or no modification or special equipment to be used.

It will be understood that the foregoing is for illustrative purposes only, and that various modifications is and improvements may be made to the apparatus described herein without departing from the scope of the invention.

In particular, for example, the arm may be formed integrally with the pile hammer.

6

Claims (21)

1. A device for use in pile driving comprising an elongate arm including attachment means for attachment to a piling hammer.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said arm further comprises a second attachment means for attachment to a mechanical excavator.

3. The device of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein at least one of said attachment means comprises a hitch.

is

4. The device of any preceding claim wherein at least one of said attachment means comprises a quick release mechanism.

5. The device of any preceding claim wherein at least one 20 of said attachment means comprises a pin to be inserted in use through holes in the arm and either a piling hammer or a mechanical excavator.

6. The device of any preceding claim wherein said arm 25 comprises a plurality of sections.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said arm comprises two substantially straight sections joined at an angle.

7

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said angle is an obtuse angle.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said angle is around 1300.

10. The device of any preceding claim wherein said arm has an H-shaped cross-section.

11. The device of any preceding claim wherein said arm is made from steel.

12. An apparatus for use in pile driving comprising an elongate arm attached to a piling hammer, the arm including 15 attachment means for attachment to a mechanical excavator.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said arm is releasably attached to the piling hammer.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said armis integrally formed with the piling hammer.

15. The apparatus of claims 12 to 14 further comprising a mechanical excavator.

16. A method of mounting a piling hammer, the method comprising the interchangeable steps of:

mounting an elongate supporting arm on a mechanical excavator; and 8 mounting a piling hammer on the elongate arm.

17. A method of driving a pile, the method comprising the steps of:

mounting a piling hammer in accordance with the method of claim 16; and driving the pile by raising and lowering the piling hammer.

18. A device for use in pile driving substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

19. An apparatus for use in pile driving substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

is

20. A method of mounting a piling hammer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

21. A method of driving a pile substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3.