US3817335A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Airgun repeater powered pile driver
Assignee: Teledyne Bolt Inc
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Filing: 1972-11-28
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Granted: 1974-06-18
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Expires: 1992-11-28
Abstract
Abstract An airgun repeater powered pile driver embodying the present invention is capable of driving piles of various types and sizes including immense piles to be driven down into the earth and can be operated totally submerged, partially submerged or entirely in the air. A first driving impulse down upon the pile commences when the airgun repeater is fired into a discharge chamber and continues for a relatively long time interval while the discharge chamber wall of great strength remains effectively telescoped within a closely surrounding sleeve as the massive weight above the airgun moves upwardly. Thereafter, the released high pressure gas intermixed with water can escape upwardly between the rim of the discharge chamber wall and the surrounding sleeve. A second driving thrust is provided when the rim of the discharge wall impacts down with respect to a driving head at the bottom of the surrounding sleeve. The pile driver can also be operated within the bore of very large diameter piles.
Inventors
- 👤 S Chelminski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:39
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02D; E02D7/00; E02D7/02; E02D7/06; E02D7/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
An airgun repeater powered pile driver capable of being operated totally submerged, partially submerged or in air comprising an elongated cylindrical housing, an elongated cylindrical weight positioned entirely within this housing and movable up and down therein, said housing being longer than said cylindrical weight for permitting said weight to remain entirely therein while it moves up and down, a strong wall having an outer cylindrical surface and being attached to the lower end of said weight and extending downwardly therefrom defining a discharge chamber adapted to have an airgun repeater mounted therein for suddenly and repeatedly releasing pressurized gas into said discharge chamber, said wall having a small diameter passage extending therethrough communicating with the top end of the discharge chamber, means for feeding water into said discharge chamber for purging the gas out through said small diameter passage, said cylindrical wall having a lower rim, an impulse transmitting driving head movably mounted in the lower end of said housing beneath said rim, and an upstanding cylindrical sleeve connected to said driving head and extending upwardly therefrom in closely spaced telescoping relationship surrounding the outer cylindrical surface of said strong wall, said sleeve extending upwardly around said strong wall to the level of said small diameter passage when said strong wall is fully telescoped within said sleeve with said rim engaging down against said driving head.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
227 words
An airgun repeater powered pile driver capable of being operated totally submerged, partially submerged or in air comprising an elongated cylindrical housing, an elongated cylindrical weight positioned entirely within this housing and movable up and down therein, said housing being longer than said cylindrical weight for permitting said weight to remain entirely therein while it moves up and down, a strong wall having an outer cylindrical surface and being attached to the lower end of said weight and extending downwardly therefrom defining a discharge chamber adapted to have an airgun repeater mounted therein for suddenly and repeatedly releasing pressurized gas into said discharge chamber, said wall having a small diameter passage extending therethrough communicating with the top end of the discharge chamber, means for feeding water into said discharge chamber for purging the gas out through said small diameter passage, said cylindrical wall having a lower rim, an impulse transmitting driving head movably mounted in the lower end of said housing beneath said rim, and an upstanding cylindrical sleeve connected to said driving head and extending upwardly therefrom in closely spaced telescoping relationship surrounding the outer cylindrical surface of said strong wall, said sleeve extending upwardly around said strong wall to the level of said small diameter passage when said strong wall is fully telescoped within said sleeve with said rim engaging down against said driving head.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
203 words
An airgun repeater powered pile driver capable of operating totally submerged, partially submerged, or in air, comprising an elongated cylindrical housing, an elongated cylindrical weight positioned within this housing and movable up and down therein, a strong wall having an outer cylindrical surface and being attached to the lower end of said weight and extending downwardly therefrom defining a discharge chamber adapted to have an airgun repeater mounted therein for suddenly and repeatedly releasing pressurized gas into said discharge chamber, said pile driver including means for admitting water into said discharge chamber and for permitting the escape of the gas therefrom, said cylindrical wall having a lower rim, an impulse transmitting driving head movably mounted in the lower end of said housing beneath said rim, and an upstanding cylindrical sleeve connected to said driving head and extending upwardly therefrom in closely spaced telescoping relationship surrounding the outer cylindrical surface of said strong wall, said cylindrical sleeve having an upward sleeve extension above it with an inner surface which progressively slopes outwardly in an upward direction providing an increasing clearance space between said rim and the outwardly sloping surface of said upward sleeve extension when said massive weight and strong wall are moving upwardly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
203 words
An airgun repeater powered pile driver capable of operating totally submerged, partially submerged, or in air, comprising an elongated cylindrical housing, an elongated cylindrical weight positioned within this housing and movable up and down therein, a strong wall having an outer cylindrical surface and being attached to the lower end of said weight and extending downwardly therefrom defining a discharge chamber adapted to have an airgun repeater mounted therein for suddenly and repeatedly releasing pressurized gas into said discharge chamber, said pile driver including means for admitting water into said discharge chamber and for permitting the escape of the gas therefrom, said cylindrical wall having a lower rim, an impulse transmitting driving head movably mounted in the lower end of said housing beneath said rim, and an upstanding cylindrical sleeve connected to said driving head and extending upwardly therefrom in closely spaced telescoping relationship surrounding the outer cylindrical surface of said strong wall, said cylindrical sleeve having an upward sleeve extension above it with an inner surface which progressively slopes outwardly in an upward direction providing an increasing clearance space between said rim and the outwardly sloping surface of said upward sleeve extension when said massive weight and strong wall are moving upwardly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The airgun powered pile driver as claimed in claim 2, in which said outwardly sloping surface of said upward sleeve extension is conical with an outward upward flare.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
192 words
An airgun repeater powered pile driver capable of operating totally submerged, partially submerged, or in air, comprising an elongated cylindrical housing, an elongated cylindrical weight positioned within this housing and movable up and down therein, a strong wall having an outer cylindrical surface and being attached to the lower end of said weight and extending downwardly therefrom defining a discharge chamber adapted to have an airgun repeater mounted therein for suddenly and repeatedly releasing pressurized gas into said discharge chamber, said pile driver including means for admitting water into said discharge chamber and for permitting the escape of the gas therefrom, said cylindrical wall having a lower rim, an impulse transmitting driving head movably mounted in the lower end of said housing beneath said rim, and an upstanding cylindrical sleeve connected to said driving head and extending upwardly therefrom in closely spaced telescoping relationship surrounding the outer cylindrical surface of said strong wall, said driving head having an annular groove therein engageable by said rim of said strong wall, said groove being adapted to retain water therein for providing a shock absorbing dashpot action when said rim impacts down into said groove.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
192 words
An airgun repeater powered pile driver capable of operating totally submerged, partially submerged, or in air, comprising an elongated cylindrical housing, an elongated cylindrical weight positioned within this housing and movable up and down therein, a strong wall having an outer cylindrical surface and being attached to the lower end of said weight and extending downwardly therefrom defining a discharge chamber adapted to have an airgun repeater mounted therein for suddenly and repeatedly releasing pressurized gas into said discharge chamber, said pile driver including means for admitting water into said discharge chamber and for permitting the escape of the gas therefrom, said cylindrical wall having a lower rim, an impulse transmitting driving head movably mounted in the lower end of said housing beneath said rim, and an upstanding cylindrical sleeve connected to said driving head and extending upwardly therefrom in closely spaced telescoping relationship surrounding the outer cylindrical surface of said strong wall, said driving head having an annular groove therein engageable by said rim of said strong wall, said groove being adapted to retain water therein for providing a shock absorbing dashpot action when said rim impacts down into said groove.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
223 words
An airgun repeater powered pile driver capable of operating submerged, partially submerged or in air comprising an elongated cylindrical housing, an elongated cylindrical weight positioned within this housing and movable up and down therein, a strong wall having an outer cylindrical surface and being attached to the lower end of said weight and extending downwardly therefrom defining a discharge chamber adapted to have an airgun repeater mounted therein to repeatedly abruptly release high pressure gas in said discharge chamber, said cylindrical wall having a lower rim, an impulse transmitting driving head movably mounted in the lower end of said housing beneath said rim, an upstanding cylindrical sleeve connected to said driving head and extending upwardly therefrom in closely spaced telescoping relationship surrounding the outer cylindrical surface of said strong wall, said weight having a central passage extending down therein, said weight having a plurality of branch passages in its lOwer end providing communication between the lower end of said central passage and the top of said discharge chamber for introducing water into said discharge chamber, said pile driver including means for removing the released gas from said discharge chamber, and a ring shaped check valve adapted to engage up against the lower end of said weight to block said branch passages when the high pressure gas is abruptly released in said discharge chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
223 words
An airgun repeater powered pile driver capable of operating submerged, partially submerged or in air comprising an elongated cylindrical housing, an elongated cylindrical weight positioned within this housing and movable up and down therein, a strong wall having an outer cylindrical surface and being attached to the lower end of said weight and extending downwardly therefrom defining a discharge chamber adapted to have an airgun repeater mounted therein to repeatedly abruptly release high pressure gas in said discharge chamber, said cylindrical wall having a lower rim, an impulse transmitting driving head movably mounted in the lower end of said housing beneath said rim, an upstanding cylindrical sleeve connected to said driving head and extending upwardly therefrom in closely spaced telescoping relationship surrounding the outer cylindrical surface of said strong wall, said weight having a central passage extending down therein, said weight having a plurality of branch passages in its lOwer end providing communication between the lower end of said central passage and the top of said discharge chamber for introducing water into said discharge chamber, said pile driver including means for removing the released gas from said discharge chamber, and a ring shaped check valve adapted to engage up against the lower end of said weight to block said branch passages when the high pressure gas is abruptly released in said discharge chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
206 words
An airgun repeater powered pile driver capable of operating totally submerged, partially submerged, or in air comprising an elongated cylindrical housing, an elongated cylindrical weight positioned within this housing and movable up and down therein, a strong wall having an outer cylindrical surface and being attached to the lower end of said weight and extending downwardly therefrom defining a discharge chamber adapted to have an airgun repeater mounted therein to repeatedly abruptly discharge high pressure gas into said discharge chamber, said cylindrical wall having a lower rim, an impulse transmitting driving head movably mounted in the lower end of said housing beneath said rim, an upstanding cylindrical sleeve connected to said driving head and extending upwardly therefrom in closely spaced telescoping relationship surrounding the outer cylindrical surface of said strong wall, said weight having a passage extending downwardly therethrough, a pipe connected to the top of said weight and extending upwardly therefrom, said pipe communicating with said passage, a stationary liquid supply manifold mounted on said housing, at least one slack flexible hose extending from the upper end of said pipe to said manifold for supplying liquid into the discharge chamber, and said pile driver including means for releasing the discharged gas from the discharge chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
206 words
An airgun repeater powered pile driver capable of operating totally submerged, partially submerged, or in air comprising an elongated cylindrical housing, an elongated cylindrical weight positioned within this housing and movable up and down therein, a strong wall having an outer cylindrical surface and being attached to the lower end of said weight and extending downwardly therefrom defining a discharge chamber adapted to have an airgun repeater mounted therein to repeatedly abruptly discharge high pressure gas into said discharge chamber, said cylindrical wall having a lower rim, an impulse transmitting driving head movably mounted in the lower end of said housing beneath said rim, an upstanding cylindrical sleeve connected to said driving head and extending upwardly therefrom in closely spaced telescoping relationship surrounding the outer cylindrical surface of said strong wall, said weight having a passage extending downwardly therethrough, a pipe connected to the top of said weight and extending upwardly therefrom, said pipe communicating with said passage, a stationary liquid supply manifold mounted on said housing, at least one slack flexible hose extending from the upper end of said pipe to said manifold for supplying liquid into the discharge chamber, and said pile driver including means for releasing the discharged gas from the discharge chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
An airgun repeater powered pile driver as claimed in claim 6, including an enclosure connected to the upper end of said housing for catching liquid expelled from said housing, a flexible hose extending from said enclosure, gas-liquid separator means connected to said hose, pump means for receiving the separated liquid, and a second hose line extending from said pump means to said stationary liquid supply manifold.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
129 words
An airgun repeater powered pile driver comprising an elongated cylindrical weight, a strong cylindrical wall being attached to the lower end of said weight and extending downwardly therefrom defining a discharge chamber adapted to have an airgun repeater mounted therein, said cylindrical wall having a lower rim, an impulse transmitting driving head positioned beneath said rim and being adapted to be coupled to a pile to be driven, said weight having a passage extending downwardly therethrough for feeding liquid into said discharge chamber, a pipe connected to the top of said weight and extending upwardly therefrom, said pipe communicating with said passage, a stationary liquid supply manifold mounted on said housing, and at least one slack flexible hose extending from the upper end of said pipe to said manifold.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
129 words
An airgun repeater powered pile driver comprising an elongated cylindrical weight, a strong cylindrical wall being attached to the lower end of said weight and extending downwardly therefrom defining a discharge chamber adapted to have an airgun repeater mounted therein, said cylindrical wall having a lower rim, an impulse transmitting driving head positioned beneath said rim and being adapted to be coupled to a pile to be driven, said weight having a passage extending downwardly therethrough for feeding liquid into said discharge chamber, a pipe connected to the top of said weight and extending upwardly therefrom, said pipe communicating with said passage, a stationary liquid supply manifold mounted on said housing, and at least one slack flexible hose extending from the upper end of said pipe to said manifold.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
178 words
An airgun repeater powered pile driver capable of operating totally submerged, partially submerged or in air comprising an elongated cylindrical weight, a strong wall having an outer cylindrical surface and being attached to the lower end of said weight and extending downwardly therefrom defining a discharge chamber adapted to have an airgun repeater mounted therein for abruptly and repeatedly releasing a charge of high pressure gas into the discharge chamber, said cylindrical wall having a lower rim, an impulse transmitting driving head positioned beneath said rim adapted to be coupled to a pile to be driven, and an upstanding cylindrical sleeve connected to said driving head and extending upwardly therefrom in closely spaced telescoping relationship surrounding the outer cylindrical surface of said strong wall, said cylindrical weight having a passage extending vertically therethrough for feeding liquid into said discharge chamBer, a pipe attached to the top of said weight and extending upwardly therefrom, means for feeding liquid into said pipe coupled to the top of said pipe and means for removing the released gas from the discharge chamber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
178 words
An airgun repeater powered pile driver capable of operating totally submerged, partially submerged or in air comprising an elongated cylindrical weight, a strong wall having an outer cylindrical surface and being attached to the lower end of said weight and extending downwardly therefrom defining a discharge chamber adapted to have an airgun repeater mounted therein for abruptly and repeatedly releasing a charge of high pressure gas into the discharge chamber, said cylindrical wall having a lower rim, an impulse transmitting driving head positioned beneath said rim adapted to be coupled to a pile to be driven, and an upstanding cylindrical sleeve connected to said driving head and extending upwardly therefrom in closely spaced telescoping relationship surrounding the outer cylindrical surface of said strong wall, said cylindrical weight having a passage extending vertically therethrough for feeding liquid into said discharge chamBer, a pipe attached to the top of said weight and extending upwardly therefrom, means for feeding liquid into said pipe coupled to the top of said pipe and means for removing the released gas from the discharge chamber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
200 words
An airgun repeater powered pile driver capable of operating totally submerged, partially submerged, or in air comprising an elongated cylindrical weight, a strong cylindrical wall being attached to the lower end of said weight and extending downwardly therefrom defining a discharge chamber adapted to have an airgun repeater mounted therein for abruptly and repeatedly discharging high pressure gas into the discharge chamber, said cylindrical wall having a lower rim, an impulse transmitting driving head positioned beneath said rim and being adapted to be coupled to a pile to be driven, said weight having a passage extending downwardly therethrough for feeding liquid into said discharge chamber, a pipe connected to the top of said weight and extending upwardly therefrom, said pipe communicating with said passage, a stationary liquid supply manifold surrounding the upper end of said pipe and having first and second spaced sealing means slidingly engaging said pipe and defining a manifold chamber in said manifold surrounding said pipe, said pipe having at least one opening therein providing communication between said manifold chamber and the interior of said pipe for feeding liquid into said pipe, and means associated with the discharge chamber for removing the discharged gas from the chamber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
200 words
An airgun repeater powered pile driver capable of operating totally submerged, partially submerged, or in air comprising an elongated cylindrical weight, a strong cylindrical wall being attached to the lower end of said weight and extending downwardly therefrom defining a discharge chamber adapted to have an airgun repeater mounted therein for abruptly and repeatedly discharging high pressure gas into the discharge chamber, said cylindrical wall having a lower rim, an impulse transmitting driving head positioned beneath said rim and being adapted to be coupled to a pile to be driven, said weight having a passage extending downwardly therethrough for feeding liquid into said discharge chamber, a pipe connected to the top of said weight and extending upwardly therefrom, said pipe communicating with said passage, a stationary liquid supply manifold surrounding the upper end of said pipe and having first and second spaced sealing means slidingly engaging said pipe and defining a manifold chamber in said manifold surrounding said pipe, said pipe having at least one opening therein providing communication between said manifold chamber and the interior of said pipe for feeding liquid into said pipe, and means associated with the discharge chamber for removing the discharged gas from the chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-17 | 1977-12-17 | 1978-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-17 | 1981-12-17 | 1982-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-17 | 1985-12-17 | 1986-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |