US3832858A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pile driving
Assignee: Global Marine Inc
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Filing: 1973-01-15
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Granted: 1974-09-03
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Expires: 1993-01-15
Abstract
Abstract A pile driver includes a base and selectively operable means, such as an air cushion support system, for supporting the base in an elevated position above ground. Suitable cranes are provided for disposing a pile substantially vertically of the base with the lower end of the pile in engagement with ground adjacent the base. The base carries means which are operable in the elevated position of the base for transferring at least a substantial portion of the weight of the base to the pile. A suitable hammer is carried by the base for applying impact loads to the upper end of the pile. Where an air cushion support system is used, the system may be overpowered to cause the base to oscillate vertically through a range less than the stable hover height of the base, and at least some of the energy of such oscillation is applied to the pile to drive it into the ground. Also, where an air cushion support system is used, the space under the base may be partially evacuated after the weight of the base is transferred to the pile, thereby to increase the downward steadystate preload applied by the base to the pile.
Inventors
- 👤 E Anders
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:14
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02D; E02D7/00; E02D7/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A pile driver comprising: a. a base, b. selectively operable means operable independently of any piles and the like previously driven for supporting the base in an elevated position above ground and the like, c. means for disposing a pile substantially vertically of the base in engagement with ground adjacent the base into which the pile is to be driven, and d. means operable in the elevated position of the base for transferring at least a substantial portion of the weight of the base to a pile disposed vertically of the base.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
A pile driver comprising: a. a base, b. selectively operable means operable independently of any piles and the like previously driven for supporting the base in an elevated position above ground and the like, c. means for disposing a pile substantially vertically of the base in engagement with ground adjacent the base into which the pile is to be driven, and d. means operable in the elevated position of the base for transferring at least a substantial portion of the weight of the base to a pile disposed vertically of the base.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A pile driver according to claim 1 including impact means carried by the base and engageable with the upper end of a pile disposed vertically of the base.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
supplying air at superatmospheric pressure to the space, d. coupling the base in the elevated position thereof to the pile, and e. applying to the pile at least a portion of the weight of the base by withdrawing at least a substantial portion of the support of the base following coupling of the base to the pile by discontinuing the supply of air at superatmospheric pressure to the space.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
supplying air at superatmospheric pressure to the space, d. coupling the base in the elevated position thereof to the pile, and e. applying to the pile at least a portion of the weight of the base by withdrawing at least a substantial portion of the support of the base following coupling of the base to the pile by discontinuing the supply of air at superatmospheric pressure to the space.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
97 words
A pile driver according to claim 1 including load receiving means attachable to a pile to be secure from movement longitudinally of the pile, wherein the selectively operable means is operable to cause the base to move cyclically substantially up and down within a range less than the distance between the base and ground in the elevated position of the base, and means carried by the base for cooperating with the load receiving means to transfer to the load receiving means at least a portion of the momentum of the base due to downward cyclic movement thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A pile driver according to claim 3 including means cooperating between the base and the load receiving means for adjusting the position of the load receiving means along the pile.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A pile driver according to claim 4 wherein the position adjusting means is operable for maintaining the load receiving means at a location on the pile which is a selected distance from a reference location on the base when the base is at a predetermined position within its range of cyclic movement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A pile driver according to claim 5 wherein the position adjusting means includes means for clamping the load receiving means to the pile, and means for operating the clamping means in synchronism to cyclic vertical motion of the base.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A pile driver according to claim 1 wherein the base defines an opening vertically therethrough in vertical alignment with the center of mass of the base, and wherein the means for disposing a pile is arranged to dispose the pile through said opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A pile driver according to claim 7 wherein said opening extends to and opens through a margin of the base.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
A pile driver according to claim 7 wherein the selectively operable means includes a flexible skirt assembly carried by the base substantially peripherally thereof for enclosing a space between the base and ground and the like, and means for supplying air at superatmospheric pressure to the space.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A pile driver according to claim 9 wherein the skirt assembly is arranged to effectively enclose said space in the presence of air at subatmospheric pressure within the space, and means for evacuating air from the space.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A pile driver according to claim 10 including an air blower common to the air supplying means and the evacuating means.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for driving a pile and the like comprising the steps of: a. providing an elevatable base, b. disposing a pile to be driven substantially vertically through the base with the lower end of the pile in engagement with ground into which the pile is to be driven, c. elevating the base from a lower position thereof relative to the ground and the pile independently of the pile and any other piles previously driven, and d. applying to the pile at least a portion of the weight of the base including coupling the base to the pile at a position of the base above the lower position thereof.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for driving a pile and the like comprising the steps of: a. providing an elevatable base, b. disposing a pile to be driven substantially vertically through the base with the lower end of the pile in engagement with ground into which the pile is to be driven, c. elevating the base from a lower position thereof relative to the ground and the pile independently of the pile and any other piles previously driven, and d. applying to the pile at least a portion of the weight of the base including coupling the base to the pile at a position of the base above the lower position thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
The pile driving method according to claim 12 wherein the base is coupled to the pile when the base is at its elevated position, and further including the step of withdrawing at least a substantial portion of the support of the base following coupling of the base to the pile.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
79 words
A pile driver comprising: a. a base, b. selectively operable means operable for supporting the base in an elevated position above ground and the like, c. means for disposing a pile substantially vertically of the base in engagement with ground adjacent the base into which the pile is to be driven, and d. means operable in the elevated position of the base for transferring substantially the entire weight of the base to a pile disposed vertically of the base.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
79 words
A pile driver comprising: a. a base, b. selectively operable means operable for supporting the base in an elevated position above ground and the like, c. means for disposing a pile substantially vertically of the base in engagement with ground adjacent the base into which the pile is to be driven, and d. means operable in the elevated position of the base for transferring substantially the entire weight of the base to a pile disposed vertically of the base.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A pile driver according to claim 14 wherein the weight transferring means includes clamp means carried by the base and engageable with a pile.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
A pile driver according to claim 15 including means coupled to the base and operable in the elevated position of the base for enclosing a space between the base and ground and the like below the base, and means for generating subatmospheric pressure within the space.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
A pile driver according to claim 16 including means for cyclically altering the pressure within the space relative to atmospheric pressure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
A pile driver according to claim 14 including cyclically operable impact means carried by the base for applying downward impact forces to a pile disposed vertically of the platform.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
A pile driver according to claim 18 wherein the impact means comprises a sonic hammer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
A pile driver according to claim 18 wherein the impact means comprises a diesel hammer.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
66 words
A method for driving a pile and the like comprising the steps of: a. providing an elevatable base, b. disposing a pile to be driven substantially vertically through the base with the lower end of the pile in engagement with ground into which the pile is to be driven, c. elevating the base from a lowered position thereof relative to the ground and the pile by
Claim 27
Independent Claim
66 words
A method for driving a pile and the like comprising the steps of: a. providing an elevatable base, b. disposing a pile to be driven substantially vertically through the base with the lower end of the pile in engagement with ground into which the pile is to be driven, c. elevating the base from a lowered position thereof relative to the ground and the pile by
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 21 including withdrawing air from the space following discontinuing the supply of air to the space.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method according to claim 21 including supplying air to the space at a superatmospheric pressure in excess of the pressure corresponding to the maximum stable elevated position of air cushion support of the base above ground, thereby to cause the base to heave cyclically within a range which is less than the maximum stable elevated height of the base.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 23 including applying to a pile at least a portion of the energy of the base attributable to said cyclic heaving motion of the base.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
101 words
A pile driver comprising: a. a base, b. selectively operable means operabLe for supporting the base in an elevated position above ground and the like, said means comprising air cushion means for supporting the base on a quantity of air at superatmospheric pressure, c. means for disposing a pile substantially vertically of the base in engagement with ground adjacent the base into which the pile is to be driven, and d. means operable in the elevated position of the base for transferring at least a substantial portion of the weight of the base to a pile disposed vertically of the base.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
101 words
A pile driver comprising: a. a base, b. selectively operable means operabLe for supporting the base in an elevated position above ground and the like, said means comprising air cushion means for supporting the base on a quantity of air at superatmospheric pressure, c. means for disposing a pile substantially vertically of the base in engagement with ground adjacent the base into which the pile is to be driven, and d. means operable in the elevated position of the base for transferring at least a substantial portion of the weight of the base to a pile disposed vertically of the base.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
96 words
A pile driver according to claim 25 wherein the air cushion means is operable to cause the base to move cyclically substantially vertically within a range of movement in which, at the lower limit of said range, the base is disposed above ground and the like and is supported, in the absence of other support, upon a quantity of air at superatmospheric pressure, and wherein the weight transferring means includes means for transferring to a pile at least a portion of the momentum of the base arising from downward movement of the base within said range.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for driving a pile and the like comprising the steps of: a. providing an elevatable base, b. disposing a pile to be driven substantially vertically through the base with the lower end of the pile in engagement with ground into which the pile is to be driven, c. elevating the base from a lowered position thereof relative to the ground and the pile, d. applying to the pile at least a portion of the weight of the base including coupling the base to the pile at a position of the base above the lowered position thereof, and e. applying impact force to the upper end of the pile following application of at least a portion of the weight of the base to the pile.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for driving a pile and the like comprising the steps of: a. providing an elevatable base, b. disposing a pile to be driven substantially vertically through the base with the lower end of the pile in engagement with ground into which the pile is to be driven, c. elevating the base from a lowered position thereof relative to the ground and the pile, d. applying to the pile at least a portion of the weight of the base including coupling the base to the pile at a position of the base above the lowered position thereof, and e. applying impact force to the upper end of the pile following application of at least a portion of the weight of the base to the pile.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
111 words
Apparatus for penetrating a selected elongate member into an earth formation comprising a platform, driving means carried by the platform operable upon a substantially vertically disposed selected elongate member located adjacent the platform to urge the member to penetrate an earth formation below the platform, skirt means carried by the platform operable in combination with ground and the like below the platform for enclosing a space below the platform, means communicating with the space operable for generating subambient pressure within the space thereby to apply to the platform a downward force, and means cooperable between the platform and the member for transferring a substantial portion of said force to the member.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
111 words
Apparatus for penetrating a selected elongate member into an earth formation comprising a platform, driving means carried by the platform operable upon a substantially vertically disposed selected elongate member located adjacent the platform to urge the member to penetrate an earth formation below the platform, skirt means carried by the platform operable in combination with ground and the like below the platform for enclosing a space below the platform, means communicating with the space operable for generating subambient pressure within the space thereby to apply to the platform a downward force, and means cooperable between the platform and the member for transferring a substantial portion of said force to the member.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to claim 28 wherein the elongate member is a pile.
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) | 1977-09-02 | 1978-03-04 | 1978-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-02 | 1982-03-04 | 1982-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-02 | 1986-03-04 | 1986-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |