System for driving objects using pressure or traction forces

Claim 1

An arrangement for driving objects by pressure or traction forces, for instance for pile-driving into the ground, said arrangement comprising: a piston-cylinder driving means including a piston adapted to reciprocate in a cylinder; force transmission means comprising a wall of said cylinder at one end of said driving means for maintaining said driving means by gravity in permanent force transmitting engagement with an object to be driven; an inertial mass associated with said driving means through said piston for developing a force for permanent gravitational transmission to said object; a cylinder space on the side of the piston toward said object for communicating with a source of pulsating supply of driving medium; valve means for opening and closing communication between said cylinder space and said source of pulsating supply for initially raising said inertial mass Against the force of gravity and away from said object, for then releasing said inertial mass to enable the same to fall by gravity in the direction of said object, and for then again raising said inertial mass for another driving cycle, so that the gravitational weight and kinetic energy of said inertial mass combine to drive the associated object when said inertial mass moves in the direction of said object under the influence of gravity and impacts against said object through said force transmission means; and a cylinder space on the other side of the piston for communicating with an outlet; whereby, in use, the object to be driven is maintained permanently loaded by a gravitational force including that of said inertial mass and is driven by a pulsating force superposed on said permanent force, including kinetic energy in said inertial mass developed by the gravitational pull on said inertial mass when said valve means enables said inertial mass to fall by gravity and impact against said object.