NL2005087C2

NL2005087C2 - System for driving a large diameter caisson into the ground.

Info

Publication number: NL2005087C2
Application number: NL2005087A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Jan Robert Es
Original assignee: Dieseko Group B V
Priority date: 2010-07-15
Filing date: 2010-07-15
Publication date: 2012-01-17

Description

System for driving a large diameter caisson into the ground

The invention relates to a system for driving a large diameter caisson into the ground, comprising a plurality of vibratory devices, whereby each vibratory device is provided with eccentric weights that in use generate a vibratory force, and 5 wherein each vibratory device is provided with a clamp assembly for rigidly securing each of the vibratory devices to one of a plurality of pre-determined angularly spaced locations about the caisson, and wherein at least one gearbox and a shaft or shafts extending from said at least one gearbox to a vibratory device 10 or devices are applied to secure that the vibratory devices are synchronized so as to cause that the vibratory forces of said vibratory devices move up and down at the same time.

Such a system for driving a large diameter caisson into the ground is known from US-B-6,672,805. In this known system 15 the synchronization of the vibratory devices is secured by the application of a master/slave relationship among the various vibratory devices. To this end the known system comprises a plurality of timing shafts and gearboxes. In the exemplary vibratory assembly of this US patent 6,672,805 that has four vibra-20 tory devices, no less than six timing shafts and three gearboxes are employed. The gearboxes translate axial rotation of one of the shafts extending therein into axial rotation of the other of the shafts extending therein. Each of the shafts further extends into one of the vibratory devices, with two of the vibratory de-25 vices receiving two shafts and two receiving one shaft.

It is an objective of the invention to provide an alternative system for driving a large diameter caisson into the ground having a simpler and less costly construction, and which may be easily applied.

30 The system of the invention is provided with the fea tures of one or more of the appended claims.

In a first aspect of the invention the system for driving a large diameter caisson into the ground with a plurality of vibratory devices, has the feature that 35 at the centre of the vibratory devices a single gearbox is applied that is surrounded by said vibratory devices, and that between said single gearbox and each single vibratory device a shaft is provided that links the eccentric weights of such a vi- 2 bratory device with the single gearbox in the centre in order to arrange that the single gearbox secures the synchronization of all the vibratory devices surrounding said single gearbox.

The system of the invention is thus of simple yet ro-5 bust design, which can operate reliably and which can be realized at less costs than the known system.

In a further aspect of the invention the single gearbox at the centre of the vibratory devices is supported by a lightweight framework construction that is suspended from a heavy-10 weight support construction for the vibratory devices, whereby proximal to the vibratory devices said lightweight framework construction is provided with obliquely forwardly extending fixation arms that can be linked to the vibratory devices for securing that said vibratory devices are maintained at a prede-15 fined angle with respect to the lightweight framework construction .

Due to this construction there is no risk that the shafts between the central gearbox and the vibratory devices get damaged when the vibratory system, in particular the vibratory 20 devices thereof, are mounted to or dismounted from the caisson.

The invention will hereinafter be further elucidated with reference to a drawing of an exemplary embodiment of the system according to the invention.

In the drawing: 25 -figure 1 shows a perspective view of the system of the invention mounted on a large diameter caisson; -figure 2 shows a single vibratory device and part of the heavyweight support construction of this vibratory device, and the lightweight construction that is suspended from the 30 heavyweight support construction; -figure 3 shows detail A of figure 2; -figure 4 corresponds to figure 2, and shows the fixating arms of the lightweight construction connected to the vibratory device; 35 -figure 5 shows detail B of figure 4; -figure 6 provides a more detailed view of a part of the system of the invention mounted on a large diameter caisson; and -figure 7 shows a detail of the vibratory device of 40 figure 6 connected to a synchronization shaft.

Wherever in the figures the same reference numerals are 3 applied, these numerals refer to the same parts.

Referring first to figure 1 the system of the invention is denoted with reference 1. This system for driving a large diameter caisson 2 into the ground, comprises a plurality of vi-5 bratory devices 3. In this example five vibratory devices are shown, but this number can be varied according to the needs and requirements of the case.

Each vibratory device 3 is in entirely known fashion provided with eccentric weights that in use generate a vibratory 10 force. This is very common to the person skilled in the arts and therefore needs not to be shown in the figures and discussed in this description. Also in known fashion each vibratory device 3 is provided with a clamp assembly 4 for rigidly securing each of the vibratory devices 3 to one of a plurality of pre-determined 15 angularly spaced locations about the caisson 2. This is clearly shown in figure 6.

In accordance with the invention at the centre of the vibratory devices 3 a single gearbox 5 is applied, which figure 6 clearly shows is surrounded by said vibratory devices 3. Be-20 tween said single gearbox 5 and each single vibratory device 3 a shaft 6 is provided that links the eccentric weights of such a vibratory device 3 with the single gearbox 5 in the centre in order to arrange that the single gearbox 5 secures the synchronization of all the vibratory devices 3 surrounding said single 25 gearbox 5. A closer look at the shaft 6 is provided by figure 7.

Figure 6 also shows that the single gearbox 5 at the centre of the vibratory devices 3 is supported by a lightweight framework construction 7. With reference to figures 1, 2 and 4 it is shown that this lightweight framework construction 7 is 30 suspended from a heavyweight support construction 8 for the vibratory devices 3. Turning specifically to figures 2-5 it is shown that proximal to the vibratory devices 3 said lightweight framework construction 7 is provided with obliquely forwardly extending fixation arms 9 that can be linked to the vibratory 35 devices 3 as shown in figures 4 and 5, for securing that said vibratory devices 3 can be maintained at a predefined angle with respect to the lightweight framework construction 7. Due to this construction there is no risk that the shafts 6 between the central gearbox 5 and the vibratory devices 3 get damaged when the 40 vibratory system, in particular the vibratory devices 3 thereof, are mounted to or dismounted from the caisson 2.

4

Finally reference is made to figures 1, 2 and 4 two show that the system 1 of the invention can be provided with hoisting means, such as cables 10 for manoeuvering the system 1 in relation to the caisson 2 for mounting the system 1 or dis-5 mounting it from the caisson 2.

Claims

A system for introducing a large diameter tube into the ground, comprising a plurality of vibratory blocks, wherein each vibrating block is provided with eccentric weights that generate a vibrating force during use, and wherein each vibrating block 5 is provided with a clamping unit for secure coupling of each of the vibratory blocks at one of a plurality of predetermined angularly spaced locations on the tube, and wherein at least one gearbox and a rod or rods extending from said at least one gearbox to a vibratory block or vibratory blocks be used to ensure that the vibratory blocks are synchronized in order to achieve that the vibratory forces of said vibratory blocks move up and down simultaneously, characterized in that a single gearbox is used in the middle between the vibratory blocks 15 is through said vibratory blocks, and that between said single gearbox and each separate vibratory block a rod is provided which couples the eccentric weights of such a vibrator block to the single gear box in the center to cause the single gear box to ensure the synchronization of all vibratory blocks surrounding said single gear box.

2. A large diameter tube system for introducing a large diameter tube according to claim 1, characterized in that the single gearbox is supported in the middle between the vibratory blocks by a lightweight lattice structure suspended from a heavyweight supporting structure for the vibratory blocks, and that said lightweight truss structure is provided near the vibratory blocks with fixation arms running obliquely forward which can be coupled to the vibratory blocks to ensure that said vibratory blocks are held at a predetermined angle with respect to the lightweight truss structure. | i