Patent US3646598A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3646598A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Pile driver systems apparatus and method for driving a pile
Assignee: Teledyne Bolt Inc
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Filing: 1969-06-25
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Granted: 1972-02-29
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Expires: 1989-06-25
Abstract
Abstract Pile driver systems and apparatus and method for driving a pile are described wherein a hollow pile is driven into the earth with the employment of a massive piston freely movable in the pile bore and normally resting on the pile. An air gun repeater is placed below the piston within the liquid containing pile bore to generate powerful thrusts upon its actuation. The thrust heaves the massive piston upwardly under guidance by the pile bore wall. When the piston again descends under guidance from the pile bore wall, it generates a momentum which is dissipated on the pile to drive the pile into the earth. In a preferred embodiment a double action pile driver is obtained by utilizing the thrust from the air gun repeater to produce an initial advance of the pile into the earth followed by a second advance when the massive piston dissipates its momentum on the pile.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen V Chelminski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:02
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02D; E02D7/00; E02D7/02; E02D7/06; E02D7/10; E02B; E02B17/00; E02B17/02; E02B17/027; E02D7/20; E02D7/26; E02D7/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of driving a hollow pile into the earth comprising the steps of placing a hollow pile in the desired position relative to the earth, maintaining a liquid within the hollow of the pile, providing an impulse within the liquid in the pile to generate a powerful thrust to impart an initial advance of the pile into the earth, converting the upwardly directed thrust into a substantial momentum, dissipating this momentum on the pile in a direction to further drive the pile into the earth, waiting a brief time interval for settlement of the liquid, providing a second impulse within the liquid in the pile to generate a second powerful thrust to again initially advance the pile into the earth and converting the upwardly directed second thrust into a substantial momentum, again dissipating this momentum on the pile to further drive the pile into the soil, and repeating said steps until the pile has been driven into the earth to a desired depth.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of driving a hollow pile into the earth comprising the steps of placing a hollow pile in the desired position relative to the earth, maintaining a liquid within the hollow of the pile, providing an impulse within the liquid in the pile to generate a powerful thrust to impart an initial advance of the pile into the earth, converting the upwardly directed thrust into a substantial momentum, dissipating this momentum on the pile in a direction to further drive the pile into the earth, waiting a brief time interval for settlement of the liquid, providing a second impulse within the liquid in the pile to generate a second powerful thrust to again initially advance the pile into the earth and converting the upwardly directed second thrust into a substantial momentum, again dissipating this momentum on the pile to further drive the pile into the soil, and repeating said steps until the pile has been driven into the earth to a desired depth.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method of driving a hollow pile into the earth as claimed in claim 1 in which said impulses are provided within the liquid in the pile near the lower end of the hollow pile to generate powerful thrusts to ''''pull'''' the pile into the earth.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method of driving a hollow pile into the earth as claimed in claim 2 in which the momentum is dissipated near the lower end of the pile to generate a second powerful thrust to ''''pull'''' the pile into the earth.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of driving a hollow pile into soil comprising the steps of placing a hollow pile in the desired position relative to the earth, providing a liquid within the hollow of the pile, abruptly releasing high-pressure gas within the liquid to generate a powerful thrust to advance the pile into the soil, converting said thrust into substantial momentum of a piston weight located in the hollow of the pile, dissipating the momentum of said piston weight on the pile in a direction to further drive the pile into the soil, waiting a brief time interval for settlement of the liquid, again releasing high-pressure gas within the liquid to generate a second powerful thrust to further drive the pile into the Soil, converting the second thrust into a substantial momentum of said piston weight, again dissipating the momentum of said piston weight on the pile to further drive the pile into soil, and repeating said steps until the pile has been driven into the soil to a desired depth.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of driving a hollow pile into soil comprising the steps of placing a hollow pile in the desired position relative to the earth, providing a liquid within the hollow of the pile, abruptly releasing high-pressure gas within the liquid to generate a powerful thrust to advance the pile into the soil, converting said thrust into substantial momentum of a piston weight located in the hollow of the pile, dissipating the momentum of said piston weight on the pile in a direction to further drive the pile into the soil, waiting a brief time interval for settlement of the liquid, again releasing high-pressure gas within the liquid to generate a second powerful thrust to further drive the pile into the Soil, converting the second thrust into a substantial momentum of said piston weight, again dissipating the momentum of said piston weight on the pile to further drive the pile into soil, and repeating said steps until the pile has been driven into the soil to a desired depth.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of driving a hollow pile into the earth comprising the steps of introducing liquid into the bore of the hollow pile, placing a massive piston weight in the bore, repeatedly abruptly discharging high-pressure gas into the liquid in the bore beneath said massive piston weight for creating powerful impulses in the liquid in the bore beneath said massive piston weight for repeatedly pushing said massive piston weight upwardly, and thereafter allowing said massive piston weight to descend in the bore for driving the hollow pile into the earth.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of driving a hollow pile into the earth comprising the steps of introducing liquid into the bore of the hollow pile, placing a massive piston weight in the bore, repeatedly abruptly discharging high-pressure gas into the liquid in the bore beneath said massive piston weight for creating powerful impulses in the liquid in the bore beneath said massive piston weight for repeatedly pushing said massive piston weight upwardly, and thereafter allowing said massive piston weight to descend in the bore for driving the hollow pile into the earth.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of driving a hollow pile into the earth comprising the steps of introducing liquid into the bore of the hollow pile, placing a massive piston weight in the bore, repeatedly creating powerful impulses in the liquid in the bore beneath said massive piston weight for driving the hollow pile into the earth in which said powerful impulses are repeatedly created by abruptly releasing high-pressure gas into the liquid in the bore beneath said massive piston weight, and further liquid is introduced into the bore beneath said massive piston weight following the abrupt release of high-pressure gas for replacing the liquid and purging the gas from the bore beneath said massive piston weight.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of driving a hollow pile into the earth comprising the steps of introducing liquid into the bore of the hollow pile, placing a massive piston weight in the bore, repeatedly creating powerful impulses in the liquid in the bore beneath said massive piston weight for driving the hollow pile into the earth in which said powerful impulses are repeatedly created by abruptly releasing high-pressure gas into the liquid in the bore beneath said massive piston weight, and further liquid is introduced into the bore beneath said massive piston weight following the abrupt release of high-pressure gas for replacing the liquid and purging the gas from the bore beneath said massive piston weight.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of driving into the sediment beneath a body of water comprising the steps of providing a member having a longitudinally extending bore, introducing liquid into said bore, positioning a massive piston weight in said bore relatively movable upwardly and downwardly with respect to the bore wall, and abruptly releasing pressurized air beneath said massive piston weight generating powerful impulses in the liquid within said bore beneath said relatively movable massive piston weight repeatedly raising said massive piston weight in a sudden, jumplike manner producing driving thrusts for driving into the sediment beneath a body of water.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of driving into the sediment beneath a body of water comprising the steps of providing a member having a longitudinally extending bore, introducing liquid into said bore, positioning a massive piston weight in said bore relatively movable upwardly and downwardly with respect to the bore wall, and abruptly releasing pressurized air beneath said massive piston weight generating powerful impulses in the liquid within said bore beneath said relatively movable massive piston weight repeatedly raising said massive piston weight in a sudden, jumplike manner producing driving thrusts for driving into the sediment beneath a body of water.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of driving into the earth beneath a body of water comprising the steps of placing a hollow member containing a liquid and having a longitudinal bore member in the desired position relative to the earth, releasing into the liquid a high-pressure gas impulse from an air gun repeater located below a massive piston movable within the bore and normally resting on the member to upwardly heave the piston under vertical guidance by the bore wall, permitting the upwardly heaved piston to drop under guidance by the bore wall and dissipate piston momentum on the member to drive into the earth, waiting a brief interval for return of liquid within the bore, releasing into the liquid a second high-pressure gas impulse from the air gun repeater to again upwardly heave the piston under guidance of the bore wall and permitting the upwardly heaved piston to drop under guidance by pile bore wall to dissipate piston momentum on the member to further drive into the earth, and repeating said steps until the driving operation is completed.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of driving into the earth beneath a body of water comprising the steps of placing a hollow member containing a liquid and having a longitudinal bore member in the desired position relative to the earth, releasing into the liquid a high-pressure gas impulse from an air gun repeater located below a massive piston movable within the bore and normally resting on the member to upwardly heave the piston under vertical guidance by the bore wall, permitting the upwardly heaved piston to drop under guidance by the bore wall and dissipate piston momentum on the member to drive into the earth, waiting a brief interval for return of liquid within the bore, releasing into the liquid a second high-pressure gas impulse from the air gun repeater to again upwardly heave the piston under guidance of the bore wall and permitting the upwardly heaved piston to drop under guidance by pile bore wall to dissipate piston momentum on the member to further drive into the earth, and repeating said steps until the driving operation is completed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of driving into the earth beneath a body of water as claimed in claim 8 wherein said high pressure gas impulses are released into the liquid within the bore below a massive piston normally resting on said hollow member near the lower end thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of driving into the earth beneath a body of water as claimed in claim 8 wherein said high-pressure gas impulses are released into the liquid within the bore below a massive piston normally resting on said hollow member near the upper end thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
115 words
A pile driver system comprising a pile having a longitudinal bore commencing at an upper end of the pile, said bore containing a liquid, a piston of substantial weight mounted to move relative to the pile within the bore and shaped to fit with predetermined fluiD flow restrictive relationship with the wall of the pile bore, an air gun repeater located within the pile bore beneath the piston and positioned for abruptly releasing high-pressure gas within the pile bore below the piston within the liquid in the pile bore, means for pneumatically charging said air gun repeater, and means for repetitively abruptly releasing high-pressure gas from the airgun repeater to drive the pile into soil.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
115 words
A pile driver system comprising a pile having a longitudinal bore commencing at an upper end of the pile, said bore containing a liquid, a piston of substantial weight mounted to move relative to the pile within the bore and shaped to fit with predetermined fluiD flow restrictive relationship with the wall of the pile bore, an air gun repeater located within the pile bore beneath the piston and positioned for abruptly releasing high-pressure gas within the pile bore below the piston within the liquid in the pile bore, means for pneumatically charging said air gun repeater, and means for repetitively abruptly releasing high-pressure gas from the airgun repeater to drive the pile into soil.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
The pile driver system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the pile at the lower end thereof is provided with a bore closing tip defining a chamber sized to receive the air gun repeater therein with said chamber bounded by an annular shoulder sized for impact support of the piston weight.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
The pile driver system as claimed in claim 11 in which said air gun repeater is attached to said piston weight near the lower end thereof, an annular shoulder surrounding said air gun repeater defining a chamber containing liquid into which said high-pressure gas is abruptly released.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The pile driver system as claimed in claim 13 in which said annular shoulder is attached to the lower end of said piston weight.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
A pile driver as claimed in claim 11 wherein the piston weight is provided with a longitudinal liquid supply passage to supply liquid to the pile bore portion below the piston.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
51 words
A pile driver as claimed in claim 15 wherein the piston weight is further provided with a check valve operatively connected with the liquid supply passage to check the upward flow of liquid through the supply passage upon the abrupt release of high-pressure gas into the liquid below said piston weight.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
104 words
A pile driver comprising a pile having a longitudinal bore commencing at an upper end of the pile, pneumatically energized high-pressure air releasing apparatus located in the bore for suddenly releasing high-pressure air in the bore, and a massive piston of substantial weight movably mounted for upward and downward motion relative to the pile, said massive piston weight being located in the bore between the apparatus for suddenly releasing high-pressure air and the upper end of the bore, said movable piston weight normally and effectively resting on the pile and being raised in a sudden jumplike manner by said sudden release of high-pressure air.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
104 words
A pile driver comprising a pile having a longitudinal bore commencing at an upper end of the pile, pneumatically energized high-pressure air releasing apparatus located in the bore for suddenly releasing high-pressure air in the bore, and a massive piston of substantial weight movably mounted for upward and downward motion relative to the pile, said massive piston weight being located in the bore between the apparatus for suddenly releasing high-pressure air and the upper end of the bore, said movable piston weight normally and effectively resting on the pile and being raised in a sudden jumplike manner by said sudden release of high-pressure air.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
101 words
A pile driver system comprising a pile having a longitudinal bore commencing at an upper end and bottoming in the vicinity of the lower end of the pile, an air gun repeater located in the bore, and a massive piston movably mounted in the bore between the airgun repeater and the upper end of the bore and having a mass selected to provide a large momentum in response to impulses generated by the airgun repeater, said massive piston normally effectively resting on the pile to dissipate its momentum on the pile, said bore containing liquid sufficient to submerge the airgun repeater.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
101 words
A pile driver system comprising a pile having a longitudinal bore commencing at an upper end and bottoming in the vicinity of the lower end of the pile, an air gun repeater located in the bore, and a massive piston movably mounted in the bore between the airgun repeater and the upper end of the bore and having a mass selected to provide a large momentum in response to impulses generated by the airgun repeater, said massive piston normally effectively resting on the pile to dissipate its momentum on the pile, said bore containing liquid sufficient to submerge the airgun repeater.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
A pile driver system as claimed in claim 18 wherein the air gun repeater is mounted to the massive piston at the lower end thereof.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
50 words
A pile driver system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the pile includes a bottom end tip and a massive piston support shoulder extending along the pile bore around said air gun repeater for a length sufficient to maintain the air gun repeater free of direct contact with the tip.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
A pile driver system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the tip is permanently affixed to the pile.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
A pile driver system as claimed in claim 20 wherein the pile tip is slidably mounted to the pile in captured relationship therewith.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
82 words
A pile driver system as claimed in claim 22 wherein said annular shoulder is affixed to said tip and said annular shoulder is provided with a recess extending radially inwardly and having an axial length selected commensurate with the desired slidable movement between the pile and the tip, and a retainer ring attached to the pile end located within said recess and mounted within the pile bore, said retainer ring having a radial thickness sufficient to captUre the tip to the pile.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
84 words
A pile driver as claimed in claim 22 wherein the pile tip is provided with an outer annular sleeve having a through bore sized to freely enclose an end portion of the pile, a first ring affixed within said sleeve at the end thereof away from the tip, and a second ring affixed to the pile end at the radially outer surface thereof, said first and second rings having radial thicknesses sufficient to capture the tip to the pile with limited sliding motion therebetween.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
47 words
A pile driver system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the massive piston is provided with a stop flange sized to seat the piston onto the upper end of the pile with the piston having a portion extending within the pile bore and being longitudinally movable therein.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
41 words
A pile driver system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the piston is further provided with shroud sized to enclose a selected portion of the upper end of the piston, said shroud having a length sufficient to deflect ejected liquid downwardly.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
30 words
A pile driver system as claimed in claim 26 wherein the shroud extends down from said stop flange alongside of the outer surface of the upper end of the pile.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus for driving a member into the earth comprising means defining a bore, a massive piston weight located in said bore and being movable upwardly and downwardly in said bore, means for suddenly providing high-pressure gas in said bore beneath the lower end of said massive piston weight for raising said massive piston weight in a jumplike manner, and supply means extending to said high pressure gas providing means for supplying high pressure gas thereto.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus for driving a member into the earth comprising means defining a bore, a massive piston weight located in said bore and being movable upwardly and downwardly in said bore, means for suddenly providing high-pressure gas in said bore beneath the lower end of said massive piston weight for raising said massive piston weight in a jumplike manner, and supply means extending to said high pressure gas providing means for supplying high pressure gas thereto.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus for driving a member into the earth as claimed in claim 28 in which said massive piston weight has guide shoes affixed thereto for guiding said piston along the wall of said bore.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus for driving a member into the earth comprising a massive piston weight having a passage extending longitudinally therethrough, means for abruptly releasing high pressure gas in the region beneath the lower end of said massive piston weight, pump means for pumping liquid through said passage into the region below said lower end, and supply and control means extending to said sudden high pressure gas releasing means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus for driving a member into the earth comprising a massive piston weight having a passage extending longitudinally therethrough, means for abruptly releasing high pressure gas in the region beneath the lower end of said massive piston weight, pump means for pumping liquid through said passage into the region below said lower end, and supply and control means extending to said sudden high pressure gas releasing means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus for driving a member into the earth comprising a massive piston weight, an air gun repeater for abruptly releasing high-pressure gas beneath the lower end of said massive piston weight for causing said massive piston weight to jump upwardly for providing a downward thrust suitable for driving the member into the earth, and supply means extending down past said massive piston weight to said air gun repeater for supplying compressed air thereto.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus for driving a member into the earth comprising a massive piston weight, an air gun repeater for abruptly releasing high-pressure gas beneath the lower end of said massive piston weight for causing said massive piston weight to jump upwardly for providing a downward thrust suitable for driving the member into the earth, and supply means extending down past said massive piston weight to said air gun repeater for supplying compressed air thereto.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus for driving a member into the earth as claimed in claim 31 in which said massive piston weight has a passage extending longitudinally therethrough and said supply means is a compressed air line extending down through said passage.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus for driving a member into the earth as claimed in claim 31 in which said massive piston weight has an annular shoulder thereon surrounding said air gun repeater.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus for driving a member into the earth comprising a massive piston weight, an air gun repeater for abruptly releasing high-pressure gas below said massive piston weight, said massive piston weight having a passage extending longitudinally therethrough and supply means for feeding liquid down through said passage to surround said air gun repeater with liquid.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus for driving a member into the earth comprising a massive piston weight, an air gun repeater for abruptly releasing high-pressure gas below said massive piston weight, said massive piston weight having a passage extending longitudinally therethrough and supply means for feeding liquid down through said passage to surround said air gun repeater with liquid.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-28 | 1975-08-30 | 1976-02-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-28 | 1979-08-30 | 1980-02-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-28 | 1983-08-30 | 1984-02-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |