US2193293A - Pile driver - Google Patents

Description

March 12,1940. w; H. NICHOLS PILE DRIVER 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 11

March 12, 1940.

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FILE DRIVER Filed Aug. 11, 1936 5Sheets-Sheet :s I

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2 M w 2 Z n\ s 1 villlllll W, MW l I M w u I 1. am U y a 2] mm W/LLMM hf Ma/ou Patented Mar. 12, 1940 UNITED STATES 7 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in pile drivers.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved pile driver which is arranged to ride on the railsof the usual railway track and which is particularly adapted for use in driving piling into the road bed to reinforce and strengthen the same.

An important object of the invention is to provide. an improved pile driver arrangedto travel along. an ordinary railway track and being so constructed that it may be quickly and easily removed from the track to permit passage of trains, or othe-rtrafiic; the construction of the device being such that it may be moved oi? the track by its own power, thus eliminating the necessity of providing an auxiliary motor or engine forthis purpose. l

A further object of the invention is to provide a comparatively light pile driving device for driving piling into the road bed of a railroad and constructed to travel along the track, the device including hammer leads, which when in a vertical position, are located to drive a pile adjacent the ends of the railroad ties so as to properly brace and strengthen the road bed; such arrangement eliminating the necessity of constantly adjusting the leads in a vertical plane to properly drive the piling.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved pile driving device, which is simple in construction and cheap in manufacture, and which is arranged to travel along the track of a railway, said mechanism including hammer leads which are mounted to swing so that the upper ends of said leads may be lowered to permit passage of the device beneath bridges, or other structures spanning the track.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for driving piling into the road bed of a railway and adapted to run on the track of said railway, said device including hammer leads rotatably mounted on the device, and a single power unit for operating the hammer and also for driving the device along the traclnas well as for moving said device from the track and returningthe same thereon when necessary.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pile driving device for driving piling into the road bed of a railway which operates at a comparatively high speed, and which is provided with shock absorbing means for preventing vibratory destruction of the device, due to shocks caused by the rapid operation of the hammer. H

A construction designed to carry out the in Vention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pile driving device constructed in accordance with the invention, showing the lowered position of theleads in dotted lines,

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same, showing the device in position for removal from the rails,

Figure 3 is .a horizontal, cross-sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4. is an enlarged plan view of the lower deck and car,

Figure 5 is an enlarged, transverse, vertical sectional View of the lower ends of the leads, and showing how the power unit moves the device from the railway track,

Figure 6 is an enlarged, vertical, cross-sectional view taken through the king pin showing part of the driving mechanism,

Figure '7 is a View, taken at right angles to Figure 6, showing further details of the driving mechanism,

Figure 8 is an enlarged elevation of the hammer shock absorbing spring, i

Y Figure 9 is an enlarged view, partly in elevation and partly in section showing the shock absorbing mechanism for the cable drum drive,

Figure 10 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view of the parts shown in Figure 9,

Figure 11 is a vertical, sectional View, taken on the line ll-Il of Figure 9,

Figure 12 is a View, partly in elevation and partly in section of a modified form of the invention, and

Figure 13 is a plan view, partly in section of the modification. shown in Figure ,12.

In the drawings, the numeral 20, designates a truck or carriage, which has a general rectangular shape and which" may be constructed of any suitable material. The truck. is formed with a depending marginal flange 21] extending completely therearound. Bearing supports 2i are fastened to the underside of the carriage or truck 1 and front and rear axles are journaledin said supports. Flanged wheels 22 are secured. on the axles in the usual manner and these wheels are arranged to ride on the usual track rails A of .5

a railway, whereby the truck is supported on and movable along said track.

A sub-frame 23 is mounted to rotate on the truck 23 and as is clearly shown in Figure 6, said frame is provided with a central opening 24 which is in vertical alignment with a similar opening 25 in the truck. A king pin 26 having an annular flange 26' at its upper end extends downwardly through the openings. 24 and 25. The flange 26' overlies and is fastened to the I sub-frame 23 while the lower end of the king pin is rotatable within the opening in the truck, whereby the pin serves to prevent lateral displacement of the frame with relation to the truck.

For rotatably supporting the frame on the truck, a plurality of rollers Z? are mounted in hangers 28 depending from the underside of the sub-frame, and these rollers ride on the upper surface of the truck 23. It will be obvious that with this arrangement, the sub-frame may be readily rotated on the truck, the frame rotating on the king pin 23 which provides an axis. It is noted that the weight of the frame is carried by said rollers.

A horizontal supporting plate or deck 23 forms the top of the sub-frame and, as is clearly shown in Figures 6 and '7, the deck overhangs the truck or carriage 23. The sides of the frame 23 are braced by longitudinal channel bars 33 which are suitably fastened beneath the overhanging deck to the sides of the sub-frame. The bars reinforce and strengthen the frame and are connected at their rear ends by a transverse channel bar 3!. A similar transverse bar 32 is secured between the side bars 33 near their forward ends (Figure 6). It is noted that the ends of the bars 33 extend forwardly from the bar 32 and this projecting portion of the bars has the flanges of the bars cut away, whereby extending arms 30 are formed.

' The pile driving mechanism is mounted or supported on the deck 29, as will be explained. Since the deck forms a part of the sub-frame, it is obvious that said deck is rotatable with relation to the truck or carriage 23. Therefore, when the truck is supported on the rails A, the sub-frame and deck may be rotated to any desired position. The rotation of the sub-frame is accomplished manually for it has been found that the provision of the rollers 2'? make for easy rotation thereof.

A pair of hammer leads 33 are mounted on the forward end of the deck 29 and extend upwardly some distance thereabove. The leads are spaced from each other in the usual manner, being connected together by Ushaped straps or braces 34. For securing the leads to the deck and said frame, the lowermost strap 35 is extended so as to be disposed between a pair of vertically extending channel bars or posts 35 which bars have their lower ends riveted or otherwise secured to the side bars 38 of the sub-frame. A transverse pin or rod 3'? passes through the vertical bars 36 and through the strap 35, as is clearly shown in Figure 3, whereby the lower end of the hammer leads 33 are pivoted on the bars 33. When the hammer leads are in a vertical position the lower ends of said leads extend downwardly between the extended bars or arms 30 of the side bar 33, and to hold said leads in such vertical position a plurality of bolts 38 may be passed through the arms 33 and through the hammer leads 33. It will be obvious that when the bolts are secured to the leads and arms 33, the leads will be fastened in a vertical position. For further bracing the leads in their vertical position, an inclined brace bar 33 extends upwardly from the deck 23. The upper end of this brace bar is secured by bolts 43 to an elongate bracing member 4!, which member has its upper end pivoted in ears 42 extending rearwardly from the upper end of the leads 33. As clearly shown in Figure 1, when the bracing member is bolted to the bracing bar 39, the member and bar form an elongate inclined brace which connects the deck 23 with the upperend of the lead and serves to reinforce and add rigidity to the leads when in their vertical position.

When it is desired to swing the leads from their vertical position, it is only necessary to remove the bolts 38 from the arms 33 and the lower end of the leads 33. Then by removing the bolts Ml to disconnect the bracing member 4! from the bracing bar 39, the bracing member may be swung inwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. After this is done, it is possible to swing the upper end of the leads rearwardly so as to overlie the deck 29. For supporting the leads when swung to their lowest position, a rigid brace 39 extends upwardly from the deck 29 and acts as a support or rest for the leads (dotted lines Figure 1).

A suitable hammer 43 is slidable vertically between the leads 33. The hammer is secured to one end of a cable 43 which extends upwardly between the leads and passes over a pulley 44 mounted at the upper end thereof. The cable 43 after passing over the pulley 44 extends downwardly and is wound around a drum 45 in the usual manner. The drum is supported on a transverse shaft 46 which shaft has its end journaled in bearing boxes M. Each bearing box is bolted on the upper surface of a cover box 48 at one side thereof. The drum 43 is, of course, rotatable, and it will be obvious that as said drum is rotated, the cable 43' will be wound or unwound therefrom to raise or lower the hammer 43 between the leads 33. It is possible to connect the end of the cable 33 directly to the hammer 43, but in order to reduce the shock or vibration during the operation of the hammer, I prefer to use a connection such as is shown in detail in Figure 8. This connection comprises a yoke 49 having a ring 53 at its upper central portion to which the end of the cable 43 is secured. The lower ends of the arms of said yoke are connected by a transverse plate 5! which plate is provided with a central axial opening 5i. A pin 52 which is secured in the upper end of the hammer 43 extends upwardly through the opening 5i and into the space between the yoke arms. The extreme upper end of the pin has a plate 53 preferably made integral therewith, and a coiled spring 54 surrounds the pin 52, being confined between the plate 53 on the upper end of the pin, and the plate 5! secured to the lower end of the yoke arm. With such arrangement, it will be obvious that the connection between the cable 43' and the hammer 43 is made through the coiled spring 54 which will serve to take up the shock as the hammer is operated.

For driving or imparting a rotation to the cable drum 45, a suitable engine or power unit 55 is mounted on the rear end of the deck 29 of the sub-frame. The power shaft 56 of this unit extends outwardly from one side thereof and has a drive gear 51 fastened thereon. A drive chain 53 passes over the drive gear 51 and also over an enlarged driven gear 59, which latter gear is keyed on the transverse shaft 46 (Figure 9). It is noted that the drum 5 is not fastened or secured on the shaft 46 but is merely rotatable thereon.

For imparting rotation from the enlarged driven gear 59 to the cable drum 45, said gear has a circular disk or plate 60 secured to its inner face. A similar plate or disk 6| is spaced from the disk 80 and is fastened to the drum 45 by a sleeve 62 which is preferably made integral with both the drum and disk. Therefore, it will be seen that when the gear 59 is rotated the plate or disk 60 willbe also rotated, as will be the shaft 45 to which the gear is keyed or otherwise fastened.

For connecting the plates or disks 60 and 6|, whereby rotation of the gear 59 will cause rotation of the drum 45, the plate 60 is provided with a plurality of blocks 63 which are disposed near the marginal portion thereof and which are fastened thereto. with similar blocks 64 which are located so as to be spaced from the blocks 63, as clearly shown in Figure 11. The blocks 63 ofthe disk or plate 60 and the blocks 64 of the plate '5! are connected by a pin 65 which passes through said block. A coil spring 66 surrounds each pin and engages the blocks to hold the same separated.

With this arrangement, it will be obvious that as the gear 59 is rotated to rotate the plate 60, a rotation will be imparted to the plate 6| by means of the coil springs 66. It will be obvious that the plates Stand 5| together with their spring connection, provide a shock absorbing means whereby undue vibration in the cable drum 55 will not affect the driving mechanism. A suitable control clutch may be connected in the power unit. I i

From the above, it will be seen that the pile driving mechanism is all supported or carried by the deck 29 of the sub-frame 23. Therefore, since the sub-frame is rotatable, it is possible to swing the leads 33 to either side of the rail way track on which the truck 20 is supported. It is pointed out that the leads are extended or positioned from the center of the track so that when a pile is driven from between said leads, that pile will enter the road bed at exactly the proper place. There is no need for adjusting the leads so as to properly position the piling, because said leads are always in the proper driving position. It is noted that the provision of the shock absorbing means permits the hammer to be operated very rapidly without any damage to the machine which is comparatively light in construction. The light construction, as well as the minimum number of parts used, make for cheap manufacturing coats in constructing a device of this character.

Any suitable means may be employed for driving the wheels 22 of the truck to move the device along the railroad track A. However, I prefer to employ a drive means such as is clearly disclosed in Figures 6 and '7. This drive means comprises a drive gear 6?, which is fastened on the extreme outer end of the drive shaft 56 of the power unit,

55. A drive chain 6'! passes over the gear 6'! and extends forwardly of the deck 29 to pass over a gear 68. The gee-r68 is fastened on a sleeve 63 which sleeve is mounted to rotate in a bearing support 6Q extending upwardly from the deck 29. The outer end of the sleevemay carry a suitable balance wheel It. The inner end of the sleeve 69 is keyed to one end of a transverse drive shaft H which extends above the deck 29 and below the cover box 48 (Figure '7). The central portion of the drive shaft H is pro- The disk or plate BI is provided vi'ded with a pair of bevelled gears 12 which are fastened on said shaft. It will be obvious that motion is imparted to the gear 68 by the drive chain 61, and rotation of the gear 68 will impart a rotation to the drive shaft ll because said shaft is keyed thereto. The purpose of the key connection between the end of the shaft H and the sleeve 69 is to permit a sliding of the shaft H transversely of the deck 29. For manually sliding the shaft a suitable pivoted lever 13 extends downwardly through the box 48 and engages over said shaft between a pair of collars l4 thereon.

The bevelled gears 12 which are located at the midportion of the drive shaft H are spaced from each other and, depending upon the position of the shaft H, one or the other of these gears is in mesh with a bevelled gear 75. The bevelled gear 15 is fastened on the upper end of a vertical sub-shaft 16 which extends through the king pin 26 (Figure 7). The lower end of the sub-shaft also carries a bevelled gear 1'! which is in constant mesh with a bevelled gear l8 mounted on a shaft 79, which shaft is supported in hangers 80] depending from the underside of the truck 28. A gear 8| is secured on the shaft 19, and a chain 82 passes over the gear 8! and around a gear 83 fastened on the rear axle of the truck 20. i

When the drive shaft H is rotated, rotation is imparted to the vertical sub-shaft 16 through the bevelled gears l2 and 15.

shaft 19 through the gears T7 and '18, and as the shaft l9 rotates it drives the gear 8! which, in turn, drives the gear 83 on the rear axle by means of the chain 32. Rotation of the rear axle will, of course, turn the wheel 22 of the truck 20 to move the entire device along the rails A. It is noted that by disengaging one of the pins 12 with the pinion 15 and engaging the other pinion therewith, a reverse. direction or drive of the rear axle of the truck may be had. By positioning the gear 72 on the drive shaft I! properly, neither of these gears will engage the gear l5 and when in this position, the device is stationary. It is again noted that the sliding or movements of the drive shaft H is accomplished by means of the manually operable lever 13.

For moving the device off of the rails A of the railway track so as to permit the passage of trains, or other trail-lo, a longitudinal wheel supporting frame Se ls secured to the underside of the truck 2i! at each end thereof (Figures 2 and 4). A pair offlanged wheels 86 are mounted within each frame being rotatable on axles El. One of the wheels 86 is mounted at each end of the frame 85; By observing Figure 4 it will be seen that the wheels 85 are outside the plane of the supporting wheels 22 of the truck, and the frame which supports each pair of wheels 8% is of such size; that the lower edge of the wheels 86 is in a plane above the bottom of the supporting wheels 22. With such arrangement when the supporting wheels 22 are riding on the tracks A, as shown in Figures 1, 6 and 7, the wheels 86 carried in the frames 85 are spaced some distance above the rails A. Outwardly extending flanges or supports 84 provided on the car 29 to accommodate jacks (not shown) for raising the car to place auxiliary rails.

When it is desired to remove the device from v Rotation of the sub-shaft imparts a rotation to the horizontal the railway track, it is only necessary to raise ing wheels 22 are raised clear of the rails A. A pair of rails 38 are then placed beneath the wheels 86 as is clearly shown in Figure 2. These rails are, of course, located at a right angle to the rails A because of the disposition of the wheels 86 with relation to the wheels 22. After the rails 88 have been placed beneath the side wheels it is only necessary to roll the truck body 29 sideways along the rails 88 and thus, the entire device will be removed from the railway track.

Any suitable means may be employed for moving the device along the auxiliary removal rail 88, but I prefer that the power unit 55 of the pile driver be utilized in performing this operation. In using the power unit to move the de vice along the rails 88, the hammer 52 is dropped to its lowermost position at the ends of the leads 33. A removal cab-1e ill] has one end passed over a hook 99 provided on the hammer #33 and its other end extends downwardly around an idler pulley as which is mounted on the underside of the channel bar 32 which connects the two side bars 30 of the subframe 23 (Figures 5 and 6). After passing over the idler ill the cable is passed around a pulley 92 which is mounted in brackets $3 located at the mid portion of each side of the truck body 20. After passing around the pulley 92 the other end of the cable is suitably fixed to a stationary post which is driven in the ground at a point spaced from the machine, or other fixed means not shown. I

It will be obvious that after the rails 88 have been placed undervthe wheels 85 and the cable as arranged as above described, an upward pull on the hammer it will cause the truck 28 to be pulled along the rails E8. The hammer is, of course, raised by rotating the cabled drum Q5 by means of the power unit 55. It is noted that after the device has been removed completely from the rails A by having been moved along the rails 88 a, suiflcient distance, the rails A are clear to permit the passage of trains or other traffic therealong.

There are two pulleys 92 provided, one on each side of the truck body 20, as clearly shown in Figure l. Therefore, when it is desired to replace the device upon the rails A, it is only necessary to rotate the subframe 23 so that the leads 33 are swung to the opposite side of the truck 20. The cable 39 is then passed around the pulley iii and the opposite pulley $72, the outer end of the cable being fastened to a suitable fixed point. Lifting of the hammer will then pull the device along the rails 38 in a reverse direction and it will be obvious that the supporting wheels 22 may again be positioned over the rails A of the railway track. After this is done, it is only necessary to jack up the truck 20 a sufficient distance to permit removal of the rails 88, after which time the truck is lowered so that the supporting wheels 22 again engage the track rails A.

From the above, it will be obvious that a pile driving mechanism is provided which is very simple in construction and cheap in manufacturing cost. The hammer leads 33 are so positioned that they will properly drive the piling on either side of the railway track so as to properly reinforce and brace the road bed. The power unit 55 not only operates the hammer at a very rapid rate, but also drives the supporting wheels 22 so as to move the entire device along the railway rails A. The hammer may be operated at a comparatively high speed without danger of damaging the light construction of the device because of the provision of the shock absorbing means. As the device is moved along the railway track, the leads 33 may be moved to their lowest position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, which will permit said leads to pass beneath bridges or other spanning structures along the track.

An important feature of the invention is the provision of the side wheels 86 which are mounted in a fixed position on the truck body. Normally these wheels are raised or spaced from the rails A so as not to engage the same. When it is desired to remove the device from the rails A of the railway track, it is only necessary to raise the supporting wheels from the track and place the auxiliary rails 88 beneath the side wheels 86. Then by connecting the cable 89 to the hammer as has been described, the device may be quickly removed from the railway track. It may be just as quickly returned to the rails A after the train or the traflic has passed. The particular construction which includes the side wheels 85 makes for the quick and easy removal of the device from the track. This is important because in driving piling for the purposes of reinforcing of the road bed, it is obvious that during the course of the day many trains may pass a given point. Therefore, the device must be removed from the track each time such train approaches so as not to interfere with the running schedule of the railroad. It has been found that with the arrangement herein set forth, the device may be removed and returned to the track within a very few minutes.

A modified form of the invention is shown in Figures 12 and 13, in which I have provided another means for moving the device from the track A.

A small independent drum is carried by a transverse shaft 96 which shaft has its ends journaled in bearing boxes ill. Each bearing box is bolted on the upper surface of the cover box QB in a central position between the vertical braces 39' and the power unit 55. is suitably secured on the shaft 96 and is connected by a chain 99 with another gear Hill on the transverse drive shaft H. A suitable clutch mechanism lill is provided on the shaft 95 between the drum 95 and the driven gear 538, whereby the drum may be controlled.

The cable 89 has one end secured to and wound around the drum 95 and its other end extends outwardly over an idler pulley I62 which is mounted on the transverse rod 31. The cable is then passed over the idler pulley 9!, carried by the sub-frame 23, as has been previously described. After passing over the idler 9| the cable is passed around the pulley 92, mounted on the truck body 20, and the end is suitably secured to a stationary post, or other fixed means (not shown).

It will be obvious that, as the drum 95 is driven from the shaft 1 I, the device will be moved along the rails 88 in a manner similar to that hereinbefore described.

The feature of this modification is the provision of the independent drum 95 which is driven directly from the transverse drive shaft ll, giving a more positive control than could be obtained when the cable was pulled by the hammer it, as previously described.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A railway pile driver, including a. truck hav- A gear 98 ing traction means for engagement with the railway rails, a subframe pivoted to the truck for horizontal movements, said frame having spaced extensions, vertical members rigidly secured to the leads to be swung downwardly, an upright brace member rigidly connected to and extending upwardly from the frame and disposed rearwardly of the leads, an inclined brace pivoted at its upper end to the upper end portions of the leads, means to removably connect the lower end of the brace to the brace member, whereby upon removal of both of the said removable means, the inclined brace may be swung about its pivot toward the leads, and the latter swung downwardly about their pivot and with the inclined brace to overlie the frame.

2. A railway pile driving mechanism, including a truck having traction means for engagement with the railway rails, other traction means carried by the truck to engage rails disposed at an angle to the railway rails whereby to provide for removal of the truck from the latter rails, a pile driver having ahammer mounted on the truck, means to propel the truck along the removal rails, and means operated by movements of the hammer to actuate the propelling means to remove the truck from the rails and to restore the truck to the railway rails.

3. A railway pile driving mechanism in accordance with claim 2, wherein the means to actuate the propelling means is operated in reverse directions in accordance with, and by and upon, the reciprocal movements of the hammer.

4. A railway pile driving mechanism in accordance with claim 2, wherein the means to actuate the propelling means includes a cable with means to connect same to the hammer at one end and having an intermediate portion engaged with the truck and its opposite end. anchored to a fixed point located spaced from the truck, whereby upon movement of the hammer in one direction the truck will be moved off of the railway track and upon movement in a reverse direction, the truck will be moved onto the railway track.

5. A railway pile driver, including a truck having traction means for engagement with the railway rails, a sub-frame pivoted to the truck for horizontal movements, vertical members secured to the frame, pile driver leads spaced forwardly of the vertical members, means to removably connect the lower portions of the leads to theframe, means to pivotally connect the leads to the vertical members whereby to enable the leads to be swung downwardly, a brace member rigidly connected to and extending upwardly from the frame and disposed rearwardly of the leads, an inclined brace pivoted at its upper end to the upper end portions of the leads, and means to removably connect the lower end of the brace tothe brace member, whereby upon removal of both of the said removable means, the inclined brace may be swung about its pivot toward the leads, and the latter swung downwardly about their pivot, and with the inclined brace to a position to overlie the frame.

6. A railway pile driver, including a truck having traction means for engagement with the railway rails, a pile driver having a hammer carried by said truck, auxiliary traction means carried by the truck to engage rails disposed laterally of the railway rails, power means for actuating the first named traction means and hammer, and means for connection with a fixed point remote from the railway rails and having means for selective connection to the hammer or to the power means whereby said truck may be moved on said lateral rails and by said auxiliary traction means to one side of the railway and restored thereto.

7. A railway pile driver, including a truck having traction means for engagement with the railway rails, a pile driver having a hammer carried by said truck, means to pivotally mount the pile driver for swinging movements, removable means to hold the pile driver against swinging movements, auxiliary traction means carried by the truck to engage rails disposed laterally of the railway rails, power means for actuating the first named traction means and hammer, means for connection with a fixed point remote from the railway rails and having means for selective connection to the hammer or to the power means whereby said truck may be moved on said lateral rails and by said auxiliary traction means to one side of the railway and restored thereto, bracing means pivoted to the pile driver and disposed rearwardly thereof and in front of the power means and removable means to hold the bracing means against pivotal movement, whereby upon removal of both of said removable means the pile driver may be swung to overlie the power means.

WILLIAM H. NICHOLS.

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