WO2013075181A2

WO2013075181A2 - Pile driving hammer

Info

Publication number: WO2013075181A2
Application number: PCT/BG2012/000029
Authority: WO
Inventors: Petar Bodurov; Vasil GENCHEV
Original assignee: "Relo-Bg" Ltd.
Priority date: 2011-11-24
Filing date: 2012-11-14
Publication date: 2013-05-30
Also published as: DE202012013016U1; BG111092A; BG66486B1; WO2013075181A3

Abstract

The invention concerns a hammer for driving piles underwater on ocean, sea, lake or river floors. It helps to fix piles in vertical or horizontal direction, as well as tilted at any angle to the vertical. The hammer is suitable for driving piles serving as anchors to which oil platforms are attached through cords. The hammer includes an impact part moving along guides, bottom-up and top-down, with the help of rocket engines immovably fixed to it. The rocket engines can be chemical or catalytic. In another variant, the rocket engines can be electrical using as working medium the surrounding water, no matter whether it is salt or sweet, and also a laser can be used as a source of energy for heating. The main advantage of the invention is that it proposes work underwater without hammer hermetization and ensures working in air or gaseous environment. This allows work at any depths including the deepest spots in the oceans. The use of rocket engines for moving the impact part allows reaching any blow speed as well as practically unlimited energies of the impact. The hammer proposed ensures driving of piles at an increased speed, at any angle in the space as well as realizing a complicated impact.

Description

PILE DRIVING HAMMER

Technical field of the invention The invention is related to a pile driving hammer that is used for underwater soil reinforcement and soil foundation of ocean, see, lake or river floors. It allows to drive piles in a vertical or a horizontal direction, as well at any angle to the vertical. The hammer proposed is particularly suitable for driving special piles serving as anchors to which oil platforms are fixed by a cord.

Prior state of the art

An underwater pile driving hammer is known whose impact part is moving vertically in a cylindrical tube under the action of a hydraulic cylinder. The hydraulic cylinder actuates the impact part bottom-up and force on the impact part when it falls down. The tube where the impact part moves is sealed against water penetration; it contains air with a pressure higher than that of the surrounding water. The hammer is kept vertically to the driven piles underwater by means of cords dropped from a ship; an electrical cable is also passed to the hammer.

The disadvantages of the hammer described above are its complicated design, the difficulty to maintain a high air pressure in the tube which acts as a guiding cylinder when working at very big depths, the comparatively low rate of the impact part and the risk of environmental pollution due to possible leaks of hydraulic oil from the hydraulic cylinders. The hammer structure described is going to be very expensive when working at very big depths and it will be quite difficult to achieve a high reliability of its operation.

A metal forging hammer is also known, whose impact part moves bottom-up under the action of a rocket engine fixed immovably which impacts an anvil located on columns above the impact part [BG 24 567/1978]. After striking the impact part falls freely to its initial position on bumpers.

Another pile driving hammer is also known where a rocket engine is fixed immovably on the impact part of a tube diesel hammer [BG 65 331/2008]. The rocket engine is actuated when the impact part reaches the top position under the effect of a diesel fuel explosion caused by compressed air and when a free fall of the impact part begins. The rocket engine only exerts effort on the impact part when it falls downwards, the effort being exerted during the part of the stroke or during the whole stroke, e.g. during the whole duration of the stroke and it even can continue some time after striking. In this way the blow rate of the impact part is increased and so the impact energy gets higher and the impact part can already produce so called complex or combined impact resulting from the simultaneous action of inertia forces of the impact part and the effort developed by the rocket engine during the impact. Additionally, the presence of an active driving device such as a rocket engine acting on the impact part makes it possible to drive piles not only vertically but horizontally or at any angle as well.

Technical essence of the invention

The pile driving hammer includes an impact part, with a shape approximately close to a cylinder, where one or more guides pass through longitudinal apertures along its length. The guides can have the shape of cylindrical rods or have another cross-section. In order to ease the sliding, lubricated inserts reducing friction can be placed in the longitudinal apertures of the impact parts or rolling elements as balls or even rolling-contact bearings can be mounted. Another option is that the guides embrace the impact part from outside, and in this case the impact part is without longitudinal apertures. Again, you can use lubrication for reducing friction or fit additional rolling elements between the guides and the impact part. The guides are mounted immovably on a base serving as an anvil at its upper end and as a helmet placed upon the driven pile at its lower part. The upper ends of the guides are connected with a frame having ears for suspending the hammer, for example by cords. One or more jet engines are mounted immovably by fixing elements outside the impact part or placed in nests attached to the impact part, their nozzles being oriented by their apertures towards the lower end of the hammer. The rocket engines can be fixed at one level and form a ring around the impact part, or be positioned on the surface of the impact part in a staggered arrangement or as a helical curve or otherwise.

In another variant, the chambers of the rocket engines can be connected with pipes thus ensuring their simultaneous action and identical pressure in the chambers, as well as their identical traction. The chambers of the rocket engines may have various shapes but it is preferable to have a shape close to a sphere.

Another variant is when the rocket engine is designed as a toroid with a desired cross- section of the chamber and the nozzle, and this toroidal rocket engine embraces the impact part and is attached immovably to it by fixing elements or is placed on an intentionally made nest. In another variant, the jet engine is mounted immovably inside the impact part and the outlet aperture of the nozzle is directed towards the anvil which is in the upper end of the hammer base.

In another variant, a hydraulic cylinder is mounted immovably on the frame and its piston rod is flexibly connected with the impact part and the jet engines mounted immovably to the outer surface of the impact part have nozzle apertures facing the frame. These jet engines can also have chambers connected with a pipe or having a toroidal shape.

In another variant, in addition to the hydraulic cylinder mounted immovably on the frame and whose piston rod is connected to the impact part, a rocket engine is immovably mounted inside the upper end of the impact part, the nozzle aperture of the rocket engine being directed toward the frame.

In another variant, the rocket engine with a nozzle aperture directed toward the frame is mounted immovably on the front of the upper end of the impact part.

In another variant, the rocket engines are mounted immovably both on the lower end and the upper end of the impact part, the nozzle apertures of the higher located engines being in opposite direction to the lower located ones or being oriented one against another.

In another variant, rocket engines with conversely oriented nozzle apertures are mounted immovably inside the lower and upper end of the impact part.

In another variant, a body with a toroidal shape is mounted immovably on the frame where tanks storing either liquid/gas fuel and oxidant used to feed the rocket engines or a chemical compound that is to be catalytically broken down are located. Fuel/oxidant feeding systems, as well as electric supply and control systems are also mounted on the frame. The fuel and the oxidant are fed through a flexible pipe connecting the chambers of rocket engines to the fuel/oxidant tanks. The chemical compound that is to be broken down by a catalyst is also fed through flexible pipes. These flexible pipes are long enough to ensure the necessary shifting of the impact part bottom-up and top-down in order to strike a blow. Electric current is passed through a wire suspended from the ship located above the hammer but a cable from the land can also be used as well as an available and suitable underwater cable. In some cases, accumulators or batteries can be used as well as independent current sources.

In another variant, a hermetic body with a toroidal or another shape is fixed on the frame housing an installation for electrical breakdown of surrounding water that produces hydrogen and oxygen fed through flexible pipelines to the rocket engines of the hammer. The electric current needed for the installation enters through a cable suspended from a ship; the hammer is suspended from the ship by cords. Placing the installation in a body with a toroidal shape is not obstructive to the flow streaming from nozzles of the rocket engines. When the body has a different shape, the installation is mounted in a way not to impede the rocket flows.

When a catalytically decomposable chemical compound is used, there is only one tank from which the chemical compound is pushed portion-wise by a compressed air or nitrogen through a flexible pape to a catalyst placed in the chamber of the rocket engines. There are other possible ways to pass the chemical compound to the rocket chambers, for example by pumps.

In another variant, turbines driven by electric motors are mounted in the chambers of the rocket engines; water enters the chambers through valves fitted on the chamber walls.

In another variant, the rocket engines are electrical, e.g. thermal, electric arc, induction, electric explosion etc.

In another variant, explosive charges fixed at a certain distance from one another to a metal wire are passed into the chambers of the rocket engines by means of a coil device. Valves are mounted in the walls of the chamber - they get open when the consecutive explosive charge is being passed and get closed prior to its burst. The charges blast periodically in the chamber of the rocket engine by means of electric current.

In another variant, portions of liquid explosion are passed in the chambers of the rocket engines and are also blown by means of electric current.

In another variant, a laser is fixed to a girder fastened immovably to the frame or the base of the hammer. The number of laser girders is equal to the number of rocket engines mounted. The laser is fed with electric current via a cable suspended from a ship above the hammer. The laser can be fixed in a way to direct the outgoing laser beam to the nozzle aperture of the rocket engine.

In another variant, one laser can be directed consecutively to several rocket engines and for this purpose the laser is installed on a special stand allowing its re-orientation. In this case, the number of lasers will be less than the number of rocket engines.

In another variant, the laser beam is directed toward a transparent element of the rocket engine chamber such as a small window.

In another variant, the chamber of the rocket engine is entirely transparent, e.g. it is made from a transparent material.

In another variant, the laser beam is led away into the chamber of the rocket engine through a flexible optical conductor. In another variant, the laser beam is led away through a flexible pape filled with liquid such as water to the chamber of the rocket engines. The flexible pape is long enough to ensure shifting of the impact part along the guides of the hammer.

In another variant, the impact part of the hammer has a streamlined shape and the upper end of the base serving as an anvil is formed according to this streamlined shape. When using a streamlined impact part, the rocket engines can be put inside the impact part as well as along its outer surface. The rocket engines can have a common or a toroidal chamber. The streamlined impact part can be oiled by a liquid or gas lubricant which reduces the friction when moving in water or can be covered by a friction-reducing coating. Such a coating can also be a material that mimics dolphin skin.

Description of the drawings

In order to more fully understand the objects of invention, the following texts should be read in conjunction with the appended figure drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a section of the front view of the pile driving hammer with rocket engines mounted immovably at the lower end of the impact part.

Figure 2 is a section of a partial view of the frame of the hammer with a body immovably mounted to it, with a toroidal shape, wherein tanks for fuel and oxidant or catalytically decomposable chemical compound are placed.

Figure 3 is a section of a partial view of the hammer frame with a toroidal body immovably mounted to it which houses an installation for breakdown of the surrounding water to hydrogen and oxigen.

Figure 4 is an example of two chambers of a rocket engine connected by a pape.

Figure 5 is a partial view of the lower end of the impact part of the hammer with a toroidal rocket engine mounted to it.

Figure 6 is a section of a part of the hammer with a rocket engine mounted inside the lower end of the impact part.

Figure 7 is a section of the upper end of the impact part of the hammer showing a hydraulic cylinder mounted to the frame and a piston rod flexibly connected to the impact part as well as rocket engines mounted to the outer surface of the impact part.

Figure 8 is a section of the upper end of the impact part of the hammer showing a hydraulic cylinder mounted to the frame with a piston rod and a rocket engine mounted inside the impact part. Figure 9 is a section of the front view of the pile driving hammer with rocket engines mounted immovably to the outer surface of the lower and upper ends of the impact part.

Figure 10 is a section of the front view of the pile driving hammer with rocket engines mounted inside the lower and upper ends of the impact part of the hammer, with conversely directed nozzle apertures.

Figure 11 is a partial section of the upper end of the hammer with a laser fixed to the frame of the girder.

Figure 12 is a section of the front view of the pile driving hammer, the impact part of which having a streamlined shape and rocket engines with conversely directed nozzle apertures being mounted inside its upper and lower end.

Description of illustrative embodiments of the present invention

The pile driving hammer consists of an impact part 1, one or more guides 2 passing through it and a frame 3 embracing the upper ends of the guides. Ears with a shape of loops are put upon the frame 3. One or more rocket engines 4 are immovably fastened by fixing elements on the outer surface of the impact part 1, e.g. on its lower end. The rocket engines 4 can be placed immovably or in nests formed especially for them along the surface of the impact part 1. The guides 2 are immovably mounted on the base 5 placed on the pile 6. The nozzle apertures of the rocket engines 4 are directed to the base 5.

In another embodiment, a body 7 with a toroidal shape is mounted immovably to the frame 3, where tanks storing fuel and oxidant or a catalytically decomposable chemical compound are located.

In another embodiment, a body 8, with a toroidal shape is immovably mounted to the frame 3, and this body houses an installation for breakdown of the surrounding water to hydrogen and oxigen.

In another embodiment, the chambers of the rocket engines 4 are connected with a pipe 9.

In another embodiment, the rocket engine is shaped as a toroidal rocket engine 4a, which is attached immovably by fixing elements around the outer part of the impact part 1 of the hammer. The nozzle aperture of the toroidal rocket engine 4a is directed toward the base 5. The toroidal rocket engine 4a can also be mounted immovably in a specially made nest on the outer surface of the impact part 1.

In another embodiment, an immovably rocket engine 4b is mounted inside the lower end of the impact part 1. The nozzle aperture of the rocket engine 4b is directed toward the base 5. In another embodiment, a hydraulic cylinder 10 with a piston rod 1 1 is fixed immovably on the frame 3, and this cylinder is connected flexibly to the impact part 1. Rocket engines 4c are immovably fastened by fixing elements to the impact part 1. The nozzle apertures of the rocket engines 4c are directed to the frame 3.

In another embodiment, in addition to the hydraulic cylinder 10 fixed immovably to the frame 3 and having a piston rod 11, a rocket engine 4d with a nozzle aperture directed toward the frame 3 is mounted immovably inside the upper end of the impact part 1.

In another embodiment, the rocket engines 4 are immovably fastened by fixing elements to the lower end of the impact part 1 , whereas the rocket engines 4c are fastened to the upper end of the impact part 1. The nozzle apertures of the rocket engines 4 and 4c are directed to the base 5 and the frame 3, respectively. It is possible to switch the places of the rocket engines 4 and 4c, i.e. the rocket engines 4 can be mounted immovably on the outer surface of the upper end of the impact part 1 , and the rocket engines 4c can be mounted immovably on the outer surface of the lower end of the impact part 1. However, their nozzle aperturesremain directed, respectively, for the engines 4 - to the base 5, and for the engines 4c - to the frame 3.

In another embodiment, the rocket engines 4d and 4b are mounted immovably inside the upper and the lower end of the impact part 1 , respectively. The nozzle apertures of the rocket engines 4d and 4b are directed, respectively, to the frame 3 and to the base 5.

In another embodiment, a laser 13 is fixed to the frame 3 with the help of the girder 12.

In another embodiment, the impact part 1 of the hammer has a streamlined shape and the rocket engines 4b and 4d are mounted immovably inside its lower and upper end. The nozzle apertures of the rocket engines 4b and 4d are directed, respectively, to the base 5 and to the frame 3. The upper end of the base 5 serving as an anvil of the hammer has a shape corresponding to the streamlined shape of the impact part 1.

Using the invention

The pile driving hammer, according to the invention, works in the following way:

The hammer being hanged by cords to the ears on the frame 3 is dropped from a ship on the water surface until settling down on the pile 6, which is to be driven at the bottom of the water basin. The upper end of the pile 6 is placed in the opening of the base 5. The opening of the base 5 can be cone-shaped. When necessary, a cushion pad is placed between the pile 6 and the base 5, e.g. a cushion pad from wood or plastic. When necessary, also the pile 6 and the base 5 can be fastened together by fixing elements, but for the duration of driving only. Then the rocket engines 4 are switched on which create a jet traction and as a result the impact part 1 moves up along the guides 2. After passing a certain stroke, the rocket engines 4 switch off and the impact part 1 keeps moving up along the guides 2 by inertia until it finally stops in the upper position. The impact part 1 is in a free fall under the earth gravity along the guides 2 until reaching a certain speed to strike the upper end of the base 5 formed as an anvil. The base 5 passes the blow of the impact part 1 to the pile 6 which sinks to a certain depth on the floor of the water basin. The cycle described is repeated as many times as necessary to drive the pile 6 to the desired depth. In this way, due to the free fall of the impact part 1, the piles can be driven only vertically or at a small angle of 30 degree to the vertical. Various number of rocket engines 4 can be actuated depending on the magnitude of the traction and the mass of the impact part. The rocket engines 4 can create traction of either the same or of different magnitude; the number of the engines can vary according to the traction needed for a set stroke movement of the impact part 1; the timing of their actuation can vary as well. The traction of the rocket engines can be permanent, stage-adjustable or non-stage adjustable. The action of a switched on rocket engine can take from a part of a second to several seconds. In case of simultaneous switching on a greater number of rocket engines 4 their chambers can also be connected by the pipe 9 which ensures pressure leveling in the connected chambers and, when necessary, equalization of the traction created by the rocket engines 4 as well. In case of chemical rocket engines working with fuel and oxidant, the usage of the pipe 9 between the chambers of the engines ensures the almost simultaneous actuating of the rocket engines 4.

The use of toroidal rocket engines 4a allows to generate a jet power force enveloping evenly the impact part 1 without necessity of more rocket engines 4 and a pipe 9 between their chambers. The rocket engines 4 and the toroidal rocket engines 4a are fixed along the outer surface of the impact part 1, and in either embodiment they ensure raising of the impact part 1 to a certain height and its subsequent falling upon the anvil at the upper end of the base 5.

The invention is also illustrated by another embodiment where the rocket engine 4b is mounted immovably inside the lower end of the impact part 1, the nozzle aperture of the engine being directed toward the anvil of the base 5. Switching on the rocket engine 4b ensures raising of the impact part 1 to a set height, from where, after switching off the rocket engine 4b, it starts a free fall until striking the anvil from the base 5.

The invention is also illustrated by another embodiment, where the hydraulic cylinder 10 is fixed immovably on the frame 3 and through its piston rod 11 connected flexibly to the impact part 1 performs raising of the impact part 1 to a set height. The rocket engines 4c which are fastened immovably by fixing elements to the surface of the impact part 1 are switched on after reaching the set height of the impact part 1. At the same time, the leakage of oil from the hydraulic cylinder 10 to the hydraulic station (not shown on the drawing) is released so that not to disturb the movement of the impact part 1 down the guides 2. The impact part 1 moves down the guides 2 under gravity and by traction generated by the rocket engines 4c. As a result, a higher speed of the impact part 1 is achieved or the required speed is achieved at a smaller stroke of the impact part. Again, this embodiment allows to use one or more rocket engines 4c connecting their chambers with pipes 9 or to use a toroidal rocket engine 4a. The rocket engines 4c can be mounted also upon the upper surface of the impact part 1. In another embodiment of the scheme described, the rocket engine 4d is mounted immovably inside the upper end of the impact part 1 and the impact part 1 is raised by means of the hydraulic cylinder 10 and the piston rod 11. In this case, again, the impact part 1 accelerates when falling down along the guides 2 under gravity and by traction generated by the rocket engine 4d. During this movement, the impact part 1 develops a speed sufficient to strike the anvil of the base 5. Three variants are possible for the embodiments described above where the impact part 1 is driven top-down from its upper position by means of the rocket engines 4c, the toroidal rocket engine 4a or the rocket engine 4d: 1) the rocket engines are only switched on during a part of the stroke of the impact part 1; 2) the rocket engines are switched on during the whole stroke of the impact part 1 - from starting to move to the very impact; 3) the rocket engines are switched on and generate a jet traction during a part of the stroke or the whole stroke, and at the time of hitting a blow - until its completion. In the last case the impact part 1 will produce a complex or combined impact characterized with a more complete release of kinetic energy to the anvil of the base 5 and the pile 6. With every impact, it is expected even greater depth of driving of the pile 6 and respectively a shorter period of time needed for pile driving. In this way the number of required driving impacts will be reduced and the very driving process will get cheaper.

In another embodiment of the invention, the rocket engines 4 are immovably fastened to the lower part of the outer surface of the impact part 1 by fixing elements, whereas the rocket engines 4c are fixed immovably to the upper part of the impact part 1, so that after switching on the rocket engines 4 the impact part is raised to its upper position where the rocket engines 4 are switched off and when the impact part falls down, the rocket engines 4c are switched on. So the desired impact speed is achieved and the cycle described is repeated until the pile 6 is driven. The rocket engines 4 and 4c can also have chambers connected with a pipe 9. Instead of the rocket engines 4 and 4c, two toroidal rocket engines 4a can be mounted, respectively, and with their help the impact part 1 can raise to upper position and accelerate for hitting a blow.

In another embodiment of the invention, the rocket engines 4b and 4d are mounted immovably inside the lower and upper end of the impact part 1 in such a way that after switching on the rocket engine 4b the impact part 1 is raised to the upper position where the rocket engine 4b switches off and when the rocket engine 4d is switched again, the impact part 1 accelerates for hitting a blow.

When using so called chemical rocket engines working with liquid, gas or gas-liquid fuel and oxidant, the fuel and the oxidant are placed in tanks located in the body 7 with a toroidal shape mounted immovably to the frame 3. The toroidal shape of the body 7 is needed in order not to disturb the jet stream in case when the rocket engine is mounted inside the upper end of the impact part 1 or upon its upper surface. Another possibility is to use bodies for tanks of fuel, oxidant and chemical compounds that will have a shape different from toroidal. In such a case these bodies will be immovably fixed to the frame 3 so that not to disturb the streams outgoing from the nozzle apertures of the rocket engines. The fuel and the oxidant will be passed through flexible pipes (not shown on the figures) to the chambers of the rocket engines by pumps or by means of compressed gas such as air or nitrogen stored in high pressure bottles. A variant is possible for supplying three components of fuel and oxidant into the chamber of the jet engine which will require to use three separate flexible papes for the three rocket engines. For example, you can use kerosene as a fuel and nitrogen acid as an oxidant, which will be fed on portions in the chambers of the rocket engines and after mixing will self- ignite and burn almost explosively and push the water that fills up the chambers of the rocket engines. So a jet traction able to move the impact part 1 along the guides 2 is generated. The combustion products of the combination proposed are entirely harmless since they burn to water, carbon dioxide and nitrogen which is important for ecological protection of the surrounding water environment. Using hydrogen as a fuel and oxigen as an oxidant is also suitable from ecological point of view.

In another embodiment, a body 8 with a toroidal shape is immovably mounted to the frame 3 housing an installation for breakdown of surrounding water e.g. by electrolysis. The produced hydrogen and oxigen are fed, e.g. by pumps, through flexible pipes to the chambers of the rocket engines, where they are mixed and burned. When using an installation for producing gaseous hydrogen and gaseous oxigen, you do not need to periodically charge tanks with fuel and oxidant and the hammer gets more independent - with a possibility to work underwater for longer periods of time.

In another embodiment, it is used, instead of fuel and oxidant, a single chemical compound which will be broken down in contact with a catalyst, and the breakdown is connected with a release of a large amount of gases. Such a chemical compound for example is hydrogen peroxide which can also be stored in the toroidal body 7 located on the frame 3. When a portion of hydrogen peroxide is fed through flexible papes into the chamber of the rocket engine, it is passed through a section of the rocket engine chamber where a certain quantity of catalyst, e.g. manganese dioxide, is placed, and breaks down explosively releasing a large amount of gases pushing the water out the chamber through the nozzle thus generating jet traction. Using of hydrogen peroxide as a chemical compound for catalytic breakdown in the chamber of the rocket engines is also environmentally-friendly since the catalysis products are water vapor and oxigen. The chemical and catalytic rocket engines described above are suitable for work at depths which are of the order of magnitude of several thousand meters. The hammer equipped with chemical or catalytic rocket engines can work trouble-free both on land and underwater. It can also cross the air-water boundary without any need of re- equipment. For example, it can begin driving a pile which sticks up above the water surface, drive the pile until its upper face reaches the level of water surface and then proceed driving until the pile sinks entirely underwater and gets fixed to the required depth on the water basin floor.

Another variant for work at greater depths contemplates that turbines enabled by hermetic electric engines can be mounted in the chambers of the rocket engines; the water is passed into the chambers through valves mounted on the walls of the chambers. In the process, the turbines force out the incoming water from the valves through the nozzles of the rocket engines and generate a jet traction.

Usage of so called electric rocket engines is proposed for work at even greater depths. The surrounding water will be used as a working medium in the electric rocket engines and the required electric power will run through a cable e.g. from a ship located above the hammer. The surrounding water will freely enter the chambers of electric rocket engines and a part of the water will heat up and evaporate due to electric current. The rest of the water is practically incompressible and will be pushed out of the evaporated water through the nozzle of the rocket engine thus generating jet traction which will move the impact part 1 of the hammer. When the electric current is cut off and a part of water in the chamber stops heating and evaporating, the surrounding water will rush into the chamber again since it is under pressure due to the depth of the water basin, and will fill it in. The cycle described will repeat on the next supply of electric current. In this way the traction required for moving the impact part 1 is generated by pulsewise forcing out the water from the chambers. Various methods are used for heating up the water and according to them there are several types of electric rocket engines: thermal, electric arc, induction, electric explosion etc. These engines are environmental-friendy since they only produce water vapor in the process of their operation.

In another embodiment of the invention, a laser 13 is mounted to the girder 12 fixed immovably to the frame 3. The laser 13 is oriented to the chamber of the rocket engines 4c. When a laser is used for heating the water in the rocket chambers for evaporation, each engine should have a girder with a mounted laser - the number of laser girders correspond to the number of rocket engines mounted. The laser can be as well placed on a mobile stand that will re-orient it and direct the laser beam subsequently to several rocket engines. The laser beam generated by the laser 13 can be directed to the nozzle aperture of the rocket engines from a transparent section of the chamber of the rocket engines. The chamber of the rocket engines can only have limited transparent section such as a small window or can be entirely made of a transparent material, e.g. could be totally transparent. If the transparent material cannot endure the high pressures in the chamber, it can be reinforced outside with a braiding which can be made of metal or of other material and which should not impede the laser beam since large sections of the chamber wall will remain open. The laser beam generates very high temperature and ensures trouble-free heating of the water for evaporation even at the greatest depths. The laser beam can also penetrate into the chamber of the rocket engines and through a flexible optical cable or a flexible pape which could be full of water.

In another variant of the invention, solid explosion charges are passed into the chambers of the rocket engines; they are fixed at a certain distance from each other on a metal cord which is passed and taken out from the chamber with the help of a coil device. The coil device has two rollers - the cord with charges is uncoiled from the one roller, and after the charges have already blown up in the chamber of the rocket engine, the cord alone is coiled on the other roller. The walls of the chamber have valves which get open for introducing a part of the cord with an explosive charge mounted in it, and get closed after the charge enters into the chamber. The charges are placed along the cord at such a distance from each other that only one charge can be located in the chamber. The charges in the chamber are blown up by electric current and the explosion produced pushes the water out of the chamber through the nozzle of the rocket engine. So a rocket power is generated - in short pulses. After the explosion and pushing the water out of the chamber, the surrounding water enters the chamber again and the cycle is repeated.

In another variant of the invention, portions of liquid explosion are periodically deliver into the chambers of the rocket engines and blown up by means of electric current. The explosion produced pushes the water out of the chamber of the rocket engines and generates a jet traction. After explosion the surrounding water rushes again into the chamber and fills it up entirely. The cycle described is repeated as many times as it is necessary for driving the pile.

In another variant of the invention, the impact part 1 is with a streamlined shape in order to reduce the friction caused by its movement in water, and the chosen shape ensures a smaller resistance from friction when the impact part 1 moves to hit a blow. The rocket engines 4b and 4d are mounted immovably inside the impact part 1. The nozzle apertures of the rocket engines 4b and 4d are directed respectively to the base 5 and the frame 3. The upper end of the base 5 serving as an anvil is so designed as to correspond to the shape of the lower end of the impact part 1 which has a streamlined shape. Additional reduction of the friction of the impact part 1 when moving in water can be achieved by oiling its outer surface with liquid or gaseous lubricant. These lubricants are supplied from a tank with the help of a pressurized gas bottle. In another variant, the outer surface of the impact part 1 can be covered with a friction- reducing material, e.g. a coating that mimics dolphin skin. The rocket engines can be mounted not only inside the streamlined impact part 1, but also along its outer surface having both normal and toroidal shape, but this disposition will increase the resistance from friction when moving in water.

A structure of pipes or elbows is used for holding up the driven pile and the hammer in the respective position - at a desired angle or horizontally.

The main advantage of the present pile driving hammer is that the solution proposed allows operation of the hammer without any hermetization and assures its work in air or gaseous environment. This determines its trouble-free functioning at any depths including the deepest spots in the oceans - the surrounding water embraces all elements of the hammer. In addition, the hammer can work without any problem both in sweet and salt sea water. Also, the type of water does not influence its usage as working medium in some of the rocket engines proposed. The usage of rocket engines for movement of the impact part allows to reach all the necessary blow speeds as well as practically unlimited energies of the impact. In this way, the necessity of large increase in the masses of the impact parts no longer exists. Driving the piles at increased speed extends their bearing capacity, whereas driving a pile at an angle increases their reliable anchoring on the floors of various water basins. Having in mind the possibility of driving piles at any angle, the submarine topography represets no hindrance any more. At batter driving, piles of smaller length can be used which, together with their faster driving, will make this technology cheaper. The hammer proposed can realize both advantages simultaneously - to drive piles at any angle and at higher speed. The possibility that the hammer proposed can work also with a complicated impact which is realized only when using rocket engines for enabling the impact part, is jet another significant advantage to the existing similar hammers. The traction of the rocket engines can be changed stepwise or stepless and this allows, when working with the same hammer, to start working at one speed and one impact energy and to finish driving at another speed and another impact energy - if and when necessary. In addition, the invention proposed has also ecological advantages - it does not pollute environment, in this case - the natural water.

References: 1. BG 24 567/1978.

2. BG 65 331/2008.

3. P. Bodurov, T. Penchev, Industrial rocket engine and its application for

propelling of forging hammers, Journal of Materials Processing Technology 161, 2005, pp. 504-508.

Claims

1. A pile driving hammer containing an impact part (1), which moves along the guides (2), passing through it or embracing it outside, and has a frame (3) with ears and base (5) fixed immovably to the guides (2), wherein one or more rocket engines (4, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) are fixed immovably to the outer surface of the impact part (1) or are placed inside it, and bodies (7, 8) or hydraulic cylinder (10) with a piston rod (1 1) or at least one girder (12) with a laser (13) are immovably fixed to the frame (3). 2. A pile driving hammer according to claim 1 , wherein the rocket engines (4, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) are chemical, catalytic or electrical.

3. A pile driving hammer according to claims 1 and 2, wherein the chambers of the rocket engines (4, 4c) are connected with a pipe (9).

4. A pile driving hammer according to claims 1 and 2, wherein the rocket engines (4a, 4c), fixed on the outer surface of the impact part (1) are preferably with a toroidal shape.

5. A pile driving hammer according to claims 1 -4, wherein the rocket engines (4, 4a and 4c) are fixed immovably by fixing elements or are housed in nests along the outer surface of the impact part (1).

6. A pile driving hammer according to claims 1-4, wherein the rocket engines (4c and 4d) are fixed immovably by fixing elements or are housed in nests on the upper face of the impact part (1 ).

7. A pile driving hammer according to claims 1 and 2, wherein the rocket engine (4b) is mounted immovably inside the lower end of the impact part (1).

8. A pile driving hammer according to claims 1 and 2, wherein the rocket engine (4d) is mounted immovably inside the upper end of the impact part (1).

9. A pile driving hammer according to claims 1 , 2, 7 and 8, wherein the rocket engines (4b and 4d) are mounted immovably inside the lower and the upper end of the of impact part (1 ).

10. A pile driving hammer according to claims 1-5, wherein the nozzle apertures of the rocket engines (4 and 4a) immovably fixed on the outer surface of impact part (1) are directed to the base (5).

1 1. A pile driving hammer according to claims 1-5, wherein the rocket engines (4) whose nozzle apertures are directed to the base (5) are fixed immovably on the outer surface of the impact part (1), and the rocket engines (4c) whose nozzle apertures are directed to the frame (3) are fixed immovably above or under them.

12. A pile driving hammer according to claims 1, 2 and 9, wherein the nozzle apertures of the rocket engines (4b and 4d) mounted immovably inside the lower and the upper end of the impact part (1) are directed to the base (5) and the frame (3) respectively. 13. A pile driving hammer according to claims 1-12, wherein the body (7) with a toroidal or other shape is fixed immovably to the frame (3) and tanks for fuel and oxidant or a catalytically decomposable chemical compound are housed in the body (7).

14. A pile driving hammer according to claim 13, wherein catalysts are housed in the chambers of one or more rocket engines.

1 . A pile driving hammer according to claims 1 and 2, wherein the body (8) with a toroidal or other shape is fixed immovably to the frame (3), wherein an installation for breakdown of water to hydrogen and oxigen is placed.

16. A pile driving hammer according to claims 1, 2 and 6, wherein a hydraulic cylinder (10) is immovably fixed to the frame (3), with a piston rod (1 1) connected flexibly with the impact part (1) to whose outer surface the rocket engines (4c) are immovably fixed, or the rocket engines (4d), with nozzle apertures directed to the frame (3), are housed inside its upper part. 7. A pile driving hammer according to claims 1, 4-12 and 16, wherein turbines enabled by electric motors are mounted in the rocket engines (4, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) and valves ensuring access of water into chambers are mounted in the walls of the chambers.

18. A pile driving hammer according to claims 1, 3-12 and 16, wherein the rocket engines (4, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) are electric and their working medium is the surrounding water.

5 19. A pile driving hammer according to claim 18, wherein at least one girder (12) is immovably attached to the frame (3) with lasers (13) mounted on the girder(s) and laser beams directed to a transparent section of the chambers or to the nozzle apertures of the rocket engines.

10 20. A pile driving hammer according to claim 19, wherein the laser (13) is fixed on a mobile stand allowing its re-orientation.

21. A pile driving hammer according to claims 19 and 20, wherein the laser beam from the laser (13) enters the chambers of the rocket engines (4, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) through a flexible

15 optical conductor or through a flexible pape full of surrounding water.

22. A pile driving hammer according to claims 19-21, wherein the chambers of the rocket engines (4, 4a and 4c) are entirely made from transparent material and can be as well placed outside being reinforced with braiding.

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23. A pile driving hammer according to claims 1, 4-12 and 16, wherein valves are mounted on the walls of the chambers of the rocket engines (4, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d), a wire is passed with mounted explosion charges and a coil device is mounted outside for rolling and unrolling the wire with charges.

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24. A pile driving hammer according to claims 1, 4-12 and 16, wherein a portion of liquid explosion is fed periodically in the chambers of the rocket engines (4, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d).

25. A pile driving hammer according to claims 1-24, wherein the impact part (1) with a >0 streamlined shape houses rocket engines (4b and 4d), or has rocket engines (4, 4a, 4c) mounted along its outer surface, this outer surface being oiled with liquid or gaseous lubricant, or covered by a friction-reducing coating for safer moving in water, and the upper end of the base (5) serving as an anvil is designed as per the streamlined shape of the impact part (l).

26. A pile driving hammer according to claims 1-25, wherein the hammer is mounted in a structure of pipes and elbows in order to ensure the horizontal or batter position for working.