US3927722A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pile driving moving cylinder hammer with valved, fixed piston
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-02-08
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Granted: 1975-12-23
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Expires: 1994-02-08
Abstract
Abstract What follows is a description of a unique hammer for driving pile members onshore or offshore, an apparatus for driving pile members offshore, and a method of driving a pile member. The hammer includes a displaceable ram structure which is reciprocated by a pressurized working fluid against a pile member-engaging anvil structure. The anvil structure is preloaded by a quantity of fluid compressed by the ram structure in the course of its impact delivering displacement. This preload causes the anvil structure to also be displaced in the impact delivering direction, but at a lower rate than the ram structure. The method provides for directing pressurized working fluid in a first direction to load a ram structure, directing a portion of this pressurized working fluid further in the first direction in order to decelerate the movements of the ram structure in the loading direction, to direct another portion of the pressurized working fluid in a second direction for producing a firing of the ram structure, and to preload an anvil structure utilizing the firing mode of the ram structure in order to cause the anvil structure to be displaced in the firing direction, but at a slower rate than the ram structure. For driving a pile member from an offshore installation, a conduit structure is provided into which the pile member, the hammer and a supporting structure for the hammer are inserted and displaced in the course of driving the pile member. In addition to the method mentioned above, when driving a pile member from an offshore installation, the water immediately surrounding the area at which the anvil structure engages the pile member, is displaced.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard L Frederick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:23
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02D; E02D7/00; E02D7/02; E02D7/06; E02D7/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A pile driving hammer, comprising in combination: a. an elongated housing member; b. piston means; c. closure plate means; d. means mounting said closure plate means to one end of said housing member, said closure plate means including means for mounting said piston means thereto so that said piston means extends into said housing member and means for connecting the hammer to a device for supporting the hammer during use; e. elongated ram means displaceable relative to said piston means; f. load receiving anvil means, said ram means defining an internal space into which is received a portion of said piston means which extends into said housing member for defining therewith a loading chamber and a firing chamber which alternately receive from said piston means a pressurized working fluid for loading and then firing said ram means against said anvil means; and g. means mounting said anvil means to said housing member at a point thereof longitudinally displaced from said closure plate Means, with said ram means being supported by said anvil means when said ram means is at rest.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A pile driving hammer, comprising in combination: a. an elongated housing member; b. piston means; c. closure plate means; d. means mounting said closure plate means to one end of said housing member, said closure plate means including means for mounting said piston means thereto so that said piston means extends into said housing member and means for connecting the hammer to a device for supporting the hammer during use; e. elongated ram means displaceable relative to said piston means; f. load receiving anvil means, said ram means defining an internal space into which is received a portion of said piston means which extends into said housing member for defining therewith a loading chamber and a firing chamber which alternately receive from said piston means a pressurized working fluid for loading and then firing said ram means against said anvil means; and g. means mounting said anvil means to said housing member at a point thereof longitudinally displaced from said closure plate Means, with said ram means being supported by said anvil means when said ram means is at rest.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
The pile driving hammer as defined in claim 1, wherein said ram means defines a further chamber with said housing member and said closure plate means, and wherein said piston means include bypass means effective when said ram means is sufficiently displaced during pressurization of said loading chamber to provide access for the pressurized working fluid from said loading chamber to said further chamber, thereby assisting in the firing of said ram means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
The pile driving hammer as defined in claim 2, further comprising first valve means and means mounting said first valve means to said piston means within said further chamber, wherein said piston means includes exit means within said further chamber, and wherein said first valve means is actuated by the pressurized working fluid flowing from said loading chamber to said further chamber to thereby close said exit means so that said further chamber can be pressurized.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The pile driving hammer as defined in claim 3, wherein said first valve means comprises a circular plate which is generally arcuate in its planar direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
185 words
The pile driving hammer as defined in claim 1, further comprising conduit means providing a path for the working fluid to said piston means, wherein said piston means includes a main body portion and an elongated stem portion extending from said main body portion, with said elongated stem portion including means which cooperate with the mounting means of said closure plate means for mounting said piston means to said closure plate means, and with said main body portion having second valve means displaceable therein and defining first, second and third chambers with said main body portion, first and second passage means which communicate with said loading chamber and said firing chamber respectively, and third valve means displaceable therein which control communication of said first and second chambers to said conduit means, and wherein said pressurized working fluid is delivered from said conduit means through said third chamber and said first passage to said loading chamber and from said conduit means through said third chamber and said second passage to said firing chamber when said second valve means is in a first and second position respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
87 words
The pile driving hammer as defined in claim 5, wherein said conduit means is formed as concentric tubes within said elongated stem portion which terminate at one end within said main body portion, one of said tubes serving as a delivery tube for said pressurized working fluid and the other of said tubes serving as an exhaust for a portion of said pressurized working fluid, and wherein said main body portion has a third passage which extends between and couples the delivery tube to said third chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The pile driving hammer as defined in claim 6, wherein said delivery tube is the inner one of said concentric tubes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The pile driving hammer as defined in claim 6, wherein said main body portion has a fourth and fifth passage which extend between and couple said third passage with said first and second chambers respectively.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The pile driving hammer as defined in claim 6, wherein said main body portion has a sixth passage, wherein said third valve means includes independently controllable valves which control communication of said first and second chambers to said sixth passage, and wherein said sixth passage extends within said main body portion to said exhaust tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The pile driving hammer as defined in claim 9, wherein said ram means includes cam means which selectively actuate said independently controllable valves.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The pile driving hammer as defined in claim 10, wherein said cam means are formed as integral extensions on the inner surface of said ram means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The pile driving hammer as defined in claim 6, further comprising secondary means for connecting said second chamber to said exhaust tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
118 words
The pile driving hammer as defined in claim 12, wherein said secondary means includes control means mounted to said closure plate means, first passage defining means extending from said control means through said delivery tube to said second valve means, a bore formed within said second valve means and extending to said second chamber and second passage defining means extending from said control means to said exhaust tube, and wherein said control means when actuated opens a path from said second chamber through said bore, said first passage defining means, said control means, and said second passage defining means to said exhaust tube through which the pressurized working fluid in said second chamber passes to said exhaust tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The pile driving hammer as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing member, said ram means and said anvil means define a compression chamber in which a preload is developed during firing of said ram means by the compression of fluid within said compression chamber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
51 words
The pile driving hammer as defined in claim 14, wherein said housing member includes bypass means effective when said ram means is sufficiently displaced during pressurization of said firing chamber to provide access for a portion of said fluid between said ram means and said anvil means to said further chamber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The pile driving hammer as defined in claim 14, wherein said housing member includes a protruding portion which defines an upper load bearing shoulder and a lower shoulder against which said ram means abuts.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
The pile driving hammer as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for mounting said anvil means includes a guide sleeve fastened at the other end of said housing member by a plurality of fastening means, said guide sleeve extending into said housing member and defining a seat against which said anvil means rests.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
The pile driving hammer as defined in claim 17, wherein said plurality of fastening means includes a plurality of releasable wire rope slings retained within aligned pairs of channel portions formed within said housing member and said guide sleeve at selected positions around the periphery of said housing member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
66 words
The pile driving hammer as defined in claim 17, wherein said anvil means includes an anvil block, first cushion means, an alignment plate and second cushion means, and wherein said first cushion means is received within a depression formed within the top surface of said anvil block and said second cushion means is received within a depression formed within the top surface of said alignment plate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
The pile driving hammer as defined in claim 19, wherein the depression formed within the top surface of said alignment plate includes a convex surface against which said second cushion means rests, said second cushion means being shaped to engage said convex surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
85 words
The pile driving hammer as defined in claim 1, wherein said ram means comprises a cylindrical body closed at one end, a removable head at the other end and means formed in said body and said head for retaining said head in assembly with said body, said body and head defining said internal space, wherein said head defines a central opening through which said piston means extends into said internal space, and wherein said closed end includes means for draining condensation from said internal space.
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) | 1978-12-22 | 1979-06-23 | 1979-12-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-22 | 1983-06-23 | 1983-12-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-22 | 1987-06-23 | 1987-12-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |