Patent US3820346A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3820346A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Free piston water hammer pile driving
Assignee: ORB Inc
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Filing: 1972-06-30
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Granted: 1974-06-28
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Expires: 1992-06-30
Abstract
Abstract Driving long piles into submerged lands with a liquid ram or spear generated in a free-piston evacuated tube. Various drivers are enclosed. In one embodiment, the pile itself is used as at least a portion of the working chamber for generating water hammer. In another, the working chamber is a tube separate from the pile.
Inventors
- 👤 S Wisotsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:33
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02D; E02D7/00; E02D7/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of driving a pile having its tip embedded in the ground, an evacuatable enclosure with side walls and a lower barrier being effectively coupled with the tip of the pile for transmitting driving forces exerted upon said barrier to said tip, said method comprising at least partially filling said enclosure with water, providing a hydrostatic head in said water bearing upon said barrier; providing piston means in said enclosure moveable longitudinally of said enclosure; evacuating a portion of said enclosure beneath said piston means and pushing on said water with said piston means for displacing water along the longitudinal axis of the enclosure away from the barrier; releasing said piston and accelerating a mass of water following said piston along the axis of the enclosure towards said barrier under the influence of the hydrostatic head, the water and piston moving substantially independent of said pile; suddenly decelerating said piston and mass of water against said barrier, thereby converting hydraulic kinetic energy to a water hammer driving pulse for driving said pile into the ground; and repetitively evacuating, accelerating, decelerating, and driving as aforesaid.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of driving a pile having its tip embedded in the ground, an evacuatable enclosure with side walls and a lower barrier being effectively coupled with the tip of the pile for transmitting driving forces exerted upon said barrier to said tip, said method comprising at least partially filling said enclosure with water, providing a hydrostatic head in said water bearing upon said barrier; providing piston means in said enclosure moveable longitudinally of said enclosure; evacuating a portion of said enclosure beneath said piston means and pushing on said water with said piston means for displacing water along the longitudinal axis of the enclosure away from the barrier; releasing said piston and accelerating a mass of water following said piston along the axis of the enclosure towards said barrier under the influence of the hydrostatic head, the water and piston moving substantially independent of said pile; suddenly decelerating said piston and mass of water against said barrier, thereby converting hydraulic kinetic energy to a water hammer driving pulse for driving said pile into the ground; and repetitively evacuating, accelerating, decelerating, and driving as aforesaid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the tip of said pile is embedded in the sub-soil of a body of water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said evacuatable chamber is beneath the surface of said water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein driving force is transmitted from said barrier to said pile through a coupling which is located below the top of said pile.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method in accordance with claim 4 wherein the driving force is transmitted through said coupling, said coupling being at a point closer to the sub-soil than to the top of said pile.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of driving a pile having its tip embedded in the ground, an evacuatable enclosure with side walls and a lower barrier being effectively coupled with the tip of the pile for transmitting driving forces exerted upon said barrier to said tip, said method comprising at least partially filling said enclosure with liquid, providing a hydrostatic head in said liquid bearing upon said barrier; providing piston means in said enclosure moveable longitudinally of said enclosure; evacuating a portion of said enclosure beneath said piston means and pushing on said liquid with said piston means for displacing liquid along the longitudinal axis of the enclosure away from the barrier; releasing said piston and accelerating a mass of liquid following said piston along the axis of the enclosure towards said barrier under the influence of the hydrostatic head, the liquid and piston moving substantially independent of said pile; suddenly decelerating said piston and mass of liquid against said barrier, thereby converting hydraulic kinetic energy to a liquid hammer driving pulse for driving said pile into the ground; and repetitively evacuating, accelerating, decelerating, and driving as aforesaid.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
185 words
A method of driving a pile having its tip embedded in the ground, an evacuatable enclosure with side walls and a lower barrier being effectively coupled with the tip of the pile for transmitting driving forces exerted upon said barrier to said tip, said method comprising at least partially filling said enclosure with liquid, providing a hydrostatic head in said liquid bearing upon said barrier; providing piston means in said enclosure moveable longitudinally of said enclosure; evacuating a portion of said enclosure beneath said piston means and pushing on said liquid with said piston means for displacing liquid along the longitudinal axis of the enclosure away from the barrier; releasing said piston and accelerating a mass of liquid following said piston along the axis of the enclosure towards said barrier under the influence of the hydrostatic head, the liquid and piston moving substantially independent of said pile; suddenly decelerating said piston and mass of liquid against said barrier, thereby converting hydraulic kinetic energy to a liquid hammer driving pulse for driving said pile into the ground; and repetitively evacuating, accelerating, decelerating, and driving as aforesaid.
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) | 1977-06-27 | 1977-12-27 | 1978-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-27 | 1981-12-27 | 1982-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-27 | 1985-12-27 | 1986-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |