IE83428B1 - Improvements in or relating to pile cutters - Google Patents

Description

improvements in or Relating to Pile Cutters The present invention relates to pile cutters.

Piles are used extensively in the building and allied industries. They are often in the form of concrete columns reinforced with steel rods. When a pile is driven into the ground the upper portion may protrude above the ground. This portion will have to be removed. Various means are used for removing the concrete of the protruding part of the columns and then metal cutting means are used to cut off the steel reinforcement. This can be time consuming and disadvantageous.

According to the present invention there is provided a pile cutter for cutting a steel reinforced concrete pile, the cutter including pivotally mounted cutting means, and force applying means to apply a force to cause movement of the cutting means during use, to enable cutting edges of the cutting means to move from a spaced relationship to a closed relationship thereby cutting through the pile, each cutting means comprising a first portion extending from the corresponding cutting edge to the corresponding pivotal mounting, and a second portion extending from the corresponding cutting edge to the corresponding point of application of force by the force applying means, the first and second portions providing an obtuse angle therebetween.

The cutting edges, when closed, are preferably sufficiently close to cut through the concrete and steel of the pile. Preferably the cutting means touch when closed. The cutting edges, when closed, may be sufficiently close to break the concrete of the pile away, leaving the reinforment exposed.

Preferably the cutter includes two cutting means. The cutting means preferably comprises two jaws closeable as aforesaid. Preferably the cutting means are mounted on a support means. The force applying means preferably applies force between the cutting means and the support means.

Preferably the support means is hollow, to receive a pile being cut. The support means may comprise a tubular portion above the cutting means and in which a cut portion of pile may be retained. Preferably the cross section of the hollow support means corresponds to the cross section of a pile to be cut.

The pivotal cutting means are preferably situated on opposite sides of the support means. The pivotal cutting means may be pivoted about a transverse axis of the support means lying in the longitudinal plane of the support means located centrally of the force applying means.

Preferably each pivotal cutting means comprises two spaced apart first end portions and a second end portion angled relative to the first end portions to provide the said obtuse angle therebetween. The two first end portions are preferably pivotally attached to either side of the support means. A third portion may be provided extending between the two first end portions to define therewith a substantially U shaped member.

The third portion may include the elongate cutting edge.

The second end portion is preferably connected at one end thereof to a central point along the length of the third portion at the opposite side thereof to the cutting edge to form the said obtuse angle. Preferably the second end portion is pivoted by the other end thereof about an axis on a force applying means.

Preferably a force applying means is provided for each second end portion of the pivotal cutting means. The force applying means are preferably pivotally mounted by one end to the arms provided on the support means. Each force applying means may be pivotally mounted to an arm on opposite sides of the support means.

The elongate cutting edges preferably comprise carbon steel. The cutting edges are preferably provided by replaceable blades. Preferably, the replaceable blades are adjustably mounted for wear compensation.

The cutter preferably comprises mounting means by which the cutter may be supported from the side.

The force applying means may comprise hydraulic rams.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only. with reference to the accompanying drawings. in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a pile cutter; and Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial View of a cutting edge of Fig. 1.

There is provided a pile cutter 10 for cutting steel reinforced concrete piles. The cutter 10 comprises support means in the form of an upright hollow main body 12. the cross section of which corresponds to the cross section of the pile to be cut. allowing the body 12 to slide down over a pile. Two outwardly attending arms 14 are provided on the main body 12 and extend from opposite sides of the main body 12. The main body 12 and the arms 14 are fabricated from sheet steel.

The pile cutter also comprises force applying means in the form of hydraulic rams 16. These are pivoted by one end thereof about the axis I 7 on the arms 14.

Two pivotal cutting means 18 are also provided on the pile cutter 10.

Each cutting means 18 comprises two spaced apart first end portions 20‘ one to either side of the body 12 and a second end portion 22 angled relative to the first end portions to provide an obtuse angle a therebetween. A third portion 24 is provided which extends between the two first end portions 20 to provide with them a U shaped member. The third portion 24 carries an elongate cutting edge 25. The four first end portions 20 of the cutting means are pivoted to a common transverse axis 23 of the main body 12 lying on the longitudinal plane of the main body 12 located centrally of the force applying means 16 The second end portion 22 is attached to a point mid-way along the length of the third portion 24 behind the cutting edge 25' to form the said obtuse angle oi, and is pivotally mounted at axis 21 to the hydraulic ram 30 The cutting edges 25 are provided on both pivotal cutting means 18 to extend across the pile, and are manufactured from carbon steel. The pivotal cutting means 18 are angled to enable the cutting edges 25 to pass under the main body 12 when the cutting means 18 are pivoted about the axis 23 of the main body 12. and the rams 16 can extend sufficiently to bring the cutting edges 25 together at the midplane of the body 12.

The arrangement of the cutting edges 25 is shown in more detail in Fig 2. Each edge 25 is provided by a replaceable blade 30 locatable in a sleeve 32 provided along the lower edge of the portion 24. A bolt 34 secures the blade 30 in position. Chocks 36 may be used to hold the blade 30 further advanced. As the blade wears. in use. it may be removed, resharpened and replaced. with additional chocks as required as the blade wears away. Eventually, the blade will require replacement by a new blade.

Side support brackets 38 are provided on the body 12 to allow the cutter to be supported from the side of a pile, for instance by hitch arrangements of a mechanical digger or the like.

In operation. the pile cutter 10 is lowered over the pile to be cut The level of the pile to be cut is aligned between the two cutting edges 25 of the pivotal cutting means 18. When the cutter 10 is in position, the hydraulic rams 16 are activated to apply a force to the pivotal cutting means 18. The pivotal cutting means pivot about axis 23, and the hydraulic rams 16 pivot about axes 17 and 21 thereby enabling the two cutting edges 25 to move from a spaced relationship to a closed relationship (preferably in which they are touching) in the direction shown by arrows A, and cut through the pile. In the closed position the cutting edges 25 of the pivotal cutting means 18 engage one another and the hydraulic rams 16 he substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the main body 12. thereby transmitting force to the cutting means most effectively. It is an important feature of the invention that in the fully closed position. the edges 25 are sufficiently close within the pile. to cut through any reinforcing bars The pile cutter 10, according to the invention, thus allows a steel reinforced pile to be cut because the cutting means 18 pivot about the axis 23 of the main body 14 enabling the cutting edges 25 provided on the third portions 24 to engage in the centre of the pile.

Therefore this invention alleviates the problem of using different means to crush the concrete in the pile and then to cut the reinforcing steel rods. The cut section of pile (above the blades) can be lifted away by leaving the blades closed and lifting the cutter.

In addition to cutting fully through a pile, it may be desirable to use the cutter to “munch” a pile. In this operation, the edges are not brought fully together to cut the reinforcement, but only sufficiently to break the concrete away, leaving the reinforcement exposed. Thus, the pile can be cut to length (as described above) then “munched” to expose the reinforcement for attachment to other structures, both operations being carried out by a single device.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, different force applying means may be used instead of hydraulic rams.

Claims (28)

CLAIMS:

1. A pile cutter for cutting a steel reinforced concrete pile, the cutter including pivotally mounted cutting means, and force applying means to apply a force to cause movement of the cutting means during use, to enable cutting edges of the cutting means to move from a spaced relationship to a closed relationship thereby cutting through the pile, each cutting means comprising a first portion extending from the corresponding cutting edge to the corresponding pivotal mounting, and a second portion extending from the corresponding cutting edge to the corresponding point of application of force by the force applying means, the first and second portions providing an obtuse angle therebetween.

2. A cutter according to claim 1, wherein the cutting edges, when closed, are sufficiently close to cut through the concrete and steel of the pile.

3. A cutter according to claim 2, wherein the cutting means touch when closed.

4. A cutter according to claim 1, wherein the cutting edges, when closed, are sufficiently close to break the concrete of the pile away, leaving the reinforment exposed.

5. A cutter according to any preceding claim, comprising two cutting means.

6. A cutter according to any preceding claim, wherein the cutting means comprise two jaws closeable as aforesaid.

7. A cutter according to any preceding claim, wherein the cutting means are mounted on a support means.

8. A cutter according to claim 7, wherein the force applying means applies force between the cutting means and the support means.

9. A cutter according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the support means is hollow, to receive a pile being cut.

10. A cutter according to claim 9, wherein the support means comprise a tubular 35 portion above the cutting means and in which a cut portion of pile may be retained.

11. A cutter according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the cross section of the hollow support means corresponds to the cross section of a pile to be cut.

12. A cutter according to any of claims 7 to 11, when dependent on claim 6, wherein the pivotal cutting means are situated on opposite sides of the support means.

13. A cutter according to claim 12, wherein the pivotal cutting means are pivoted about a transverse axis of the support means lying in the longitudinal plane of the support means located centrally of the force applying means.

14. A cutter according to any of claims 12 or 13, wherein each pivotal cutting means comprises two spaced apart first end portions and a second end portion angled relative to the first end portions to provide the said obtuse angle therebetween.

15. A cutter according to claim 14, wherein the two first end portions are pivotally attached to either side of the support means.

16. A cutter according to claim 14 or 15, wherein a third portion extends between the two first end portions to define therewith a substantially U shaped member.

17. A cutter according to claim 16, wherein the third portion includes the elongate cutting edge.

18. A cutter according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the second end portion is connected at one end thereof to a central point along the length of the third portion at the opposite side thereof to the cutting edge to form the said obtuse angle.

19. A cutter according to claim 18, wherein the second end portion is pivoted by the other end thereof about an axis on a force applying means.

20. A cutter according to any of claims 14 to 19, wherein a force applying means is provided for each second end portion of the pivotal cutting means.

21. A cutter according to claim 20, wherein the force applying means are pivotally mounted by one end to arms provided on the support means.

22. A cutter according to claim 21, wherein each force applying means is pivotally mounted to an arm on opposite sides of the support means.

23. A cutter according to any preceding claim, wherein the cutting edges comprise carbon steel.

24. A cutter according to any preceding claim, wherein the cutting edges are provided by replaceable blades.

25. A cutter according to claim 24, wherein the replaceable blades are adjustably mounted for wear compensation.

26. A cutter according to any preceding claim, further comprising mounting means by which the cutter may be supported from the side.

27. A cutter according to any preceding claim, wherein the force applying means comprise hydraulic rams.

28. A pile cutter substantially as described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. MACLACHLAN & DONALDSON, Applicants’ Agents, 47 Merrion Square,