Patent US1679507A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3991833A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3991833A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pile hammer cushion apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-11-20
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Granted: 1976-11-16
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Expires: 1994-11-20
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus is disclosed for cushioning or attenuating the highly destructive, peak impact forces which occur between an operating pile hammer ram and the pile cap or helmet at the moment of initial contact while permitting a maximum of the delivered energy to be converted into useful work in driving the pile. Such impact forces, which can physically damage the pile hammer, the helmet, the pile, or all three, are effectively and efficiently reduced by means of an energy storing, flat spring member. Said member is so arranged as to permit a determinable, relatively constant portion of the energy absorbed from the hammer blow to be stored during hammer deceleration and then be returned to the hammer ram on its retraction stroke while minimizing that portion of absorbed energy which is irrecoverably converted to heat.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W. Ruppert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:15
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02D; E02D13/00; E02D13/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A pile hammer cushion apparatus comprising (1) first and second anvil elements each characterized by an axis of impact, said elements being connected coaxially in a manner limiting movement of them away from each other, and (2) at least one flat spring located between said anvil elements tending normally to bias those elements into extended, spaced-apart relationship and being so disposed and configured to deflect resiliently and permit said anvil elements to be moved toward each other under external impact.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
A pile hammer cushion apparatus comprising (1) first and second anvil elements each characterized by an axis of impact, said elements being connected coaxially in a manner limiting movement of them away from each other, and (2) at least one flat spring located between said anvil elements tending normally to bias those elements into extended, spaced-apart relationship and being so disposed and configured to deflect resiliently and permit said anvil elements to be moved toward each other under external impact.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A pile hammer cushion apparatus according to claim 1 in which said first and second anvil elements are anvil plates.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A pile hammer cushion apparatus according to claim 1 in which one of said anvil elements is defined in a pile helmet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A pile hammer cushion apparatus according to claim 1 in which one of said anvil elements is defined in a pile hammer ram.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A pile hammer cushion apparatus according to claim 1 in which said flat spring is a Belleville spring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A pile hammer cushion apparatus according to claim 1 having a plurality of flat springs in parallel arrangement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A pile hammer cushion apparatus according to claim 1 having a plurality of flat springs in series arrangement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A pile hammer cushion apparatus according to claim 1 having a plurality of flat springs in parallel-series arrangement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
113 words
A pile hammer cushion apparatus comprising (1) first and second anvil elements each characterized by an axis of impact, said elements having facing surfaces from one to the other and being connected coaxially in a manner limiting movement of them away from each other, and (2) at least one Belleville spring located between the facing surfaces of said anvil elements tending normally to bias those elements into extended, spaced apart relationship and being so disposed and configured to deflect resiliently and permit said anvil elements to be moved toward each other under external impact with said facing surfaces being so contoured to prevent said spring from being driven to a fully flat condition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
113 words
A pile hammer cushion apparatus comprising (1) first and second anvil elements each characterized by an axis of impact, said elements having facing surfaces from one to the other and being connected coaxially in a manner limiting movement of them away from each other, and (2) at least one Belleville spring located between the facing surfaces of said anvil elements tending normally to bias those elements into extended, spaced apart relationship and being so disposed and configured to deflect resiliently and permit said anvil elements to be moved toward each other under external impact with said facing surfaces being so contoured to prevent said spring from being driven to a fully flat condition.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A pile hammer cushion apparatus according to claim 9 in which said Belleville spring has a ratio of free height to disc thickness in the range 0.4 to 1.6.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
A pile hammer cushion apparatus according to claim 9 in which the facing surfaces of said anvil elements are so contoured that said Belleville spring cannot be driven beyond 90 percent of its fully flat deflection.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
A pile hammer cushion apparatus according to claim 9 in which the facing surfaces of said anvil elements are so contoured that said Belleville spring can be driven through at least 40 percent but not beyond 75 percent of its fully flat deflection.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
110 words
A pile hammer cushion apparatus comprising (1) first and second anvil elements each characterized by an axis of impact, said elements being connected coaxially in a manner limiting movement of them away from each other; (2) at least one flat spring located between said anvil elements tending normally to bias those elements into extended, spaced-apart relationship and being so disposed and configured to deflect resiliently and permit said anvil elements to be moved toward each other under external impact, and (3) sealing means operable between said anvil elements throughout their whole range of movement toward and away from each other whereby foreign matter is prevented from entering between those elements.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
110 words
A pile hammer cushion apparatus comprising (1) first and second anvil elements each characterized by an axis of impact, said elements being connected coaxially in a manner limiting movement of them away from each other; (2) at least one flat spring located between said anvil elements tending normally to bias those elements into extended, spaced-apart relationship and being so disposed and configured to deflect resiliently and permit said anvil elements to be moved toward each other under external impact, and (3) sealing means operable between said anvil elements throughout their whole range of movement toward and away from each other whereby foreign matter is prevented from entering between those elements.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
A pile hammer cushion apparatus according to claim 13 in which said sealing means comprises (1) a seal ring disposed around an external surface of one of said anvil element and (2) a continuous skirt extending from the other of said anvil elements in rubbing contact with said ring.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
140 words
A pile hammer cushion apparatus comprising (1) first and second anvil elements each characterized by an axis of impact; (2) means connecting said elements coaxially in a manner limiting movement of them away from each other, said means comprising (i) at least one columnar element fixedly established with respect to one of said anvil elements and extending therefrom parallel to the axis of impact thereof in sliding relation through and beyond the other of said anvil elements, and (ii) a head-like formation on said columnar elements in its extension beyond said other of said anvil elements, and (3) at least one flat spring between said anvil elements tending normally to bias those elements into extended, spaced-apart relationship and being so disposed and configured to deflect resiliently and permit said anvil elements to be moved toward each other under external impact.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
140 words
A pile hammer cushion apparatus comprising (1) first and second anvil elements each characterized by an axis of impact; (2) means connecting said elements coaxially in a manner limiting movement of them away from each other, said means comprising (i) at least one columnar element fixedly established with respect to one of said anvil elements and extending therefrom parallel to the axis of impact thereof in sliding relation through and beyond the other of said anvil elements, and (ii) a head-like formation on said columnar elements in its extension beyond said other of said anvil elements, and (3) at least one flat spring between said anvil elements tending normally to bias those elements into extended, spaced-apart relationship and being so disposed and configured to deflect resiliently and permit said anvil elements to be moved toward each other under external impact.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A pile hammer cushion apparatus according to claim 15 in which said means connecting said anvil elements is a headed bolt threaded into said one of said anvil elements.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
A pile hammer cushion apparatus according to claim 15 in which said means connecting said anvil elements comprises a plurality of said columnar elements having head-like formations thereon with those columnar elements being disposed in spaced relationship one to the other in a symmetrical arrangement.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
108 words
A pile hammer apparatus comprising (1) first and second anvil elements each characterized by an axis of impact, said elements being coaxially in a manner limiting movement of them away from each other; (2) at least one flat spring located between said anvil elements tending normally to bias those elements into extended, spaced-apart relationship and being so disposed and configured to deflect resiliently and permit said anvil elements to be moved toward each other under external impact, and (3) resilient means acting upon at least one of said anvil elements tending normally to move those elements toward each other whereby a pre-load is maintained upon said flat spring.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
108 words
A pile hammer apparatus comprising (1) first and second anvil elements each characterized by an axis of impact, said elements being coaxially in a manner limiting movement of them away from each other; (2) at least one flat spring located between said anvil elements tending normally to bias those elements into extended, spaced-apart relationship and being so disposed and configured to deflect resiliently and permit said anvil elements to be moved toward each other under external impact, and (3) resilient means acting upon at least one of said anvil elements tending normally to move those elements toward each other whereby a pre-load is maintained upon said flat spring.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
113 words
A pile hammer cushion apparatus according to claim 18 in which said resilient means whereby a pre-load is maintained upon said flat spring comprises (1) at least one columnar element fixedly established with respect to one of said anvil elements and extending therefrom parallel to the axis of impact thereof in sliding relation through and beyond the other of said anvil elements; (2) a head-like formation on said columnar element in its extension beyond said other of said anvil elements, and (3) at least one resilient element retained between said head-like formation and said other of said anvil elements and so stressed thereby to tend to move said anvil elements toward each other.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
A pile hammer cushion apparatus according to claim 19 in which said resilient element is a Belleville spring.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
109 words
A pile hammer cushion apparatus comprising (1) first and second anvil elements each characterized by an axis of impact, said elements being connected coaxially in a manner limiting movement of them away from each other; (2) at least one flat spring located between said anvil elements tending normally to bias those elements into extended, spaced-apart relationship and being so disposed and configured to deflect resiliently and permit said anvil elements to be moved toward each other under external impact, and (3) means for providing warning of the failure of said flat spring, that means being sensitive to an undue lateral excursion of an outer edge of said flat spring.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
109 words
A pile hammer cushion apparatus comprising (1) first and second anvil elements each characterized by an axis of impact, said elements being connected coaxially in a manner limiting movement of them away from each other; (2) at least one flat spring located between said anvil elements tending normally to bias those elements into extended, spaced-apart relationship and being so disposed and configured to deflect resiliently and permit said anvil elements to be moved toward each other under external impact, and (3) means for providing warning of the failure of said flat spring, that means being sensitive to an undue lateral excursion of an outer edge of said flat spring.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
109 words
A pile hammer cushion apparatus according to claim 21 in which said means for providing warning of the failure of said flat spring comprises a rod-like element slidably disposed in one of said anvil elements substantially radially with respect to the axis of impact thereof, having an inner end, and with the flat spring in an unfailed condition being retained so that its inner end is sufficiently close to an outer edge of said flat spring that that end will be borne upon by said outer edge and said rod-like element accordingly moved outwardly incidentally to undue lateral excursion of said outer edge characterizing failure of said flat spring.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
83 words
A pile hammer cushion apparatus according to claim 22 in which said one of said anvil elements is characterized by a liquid reservoir having a passage leading therefrom to a visible exterior region of said one element and said rod-like element acts as a valve in said passage normally to prevent flow therethrough of liquid from said reservoir but to permit the same upon said rod-like element being moved outwardly incidentally to undue lateral excursion of said outer edge of said flat spring.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
72 words
A pile hammer cushion apparatus according to claim 22 in which said one of said anvil elements is characterized by a bore in a visible exterior region thereof aligned with said rod-like element, said bore being normally closed by a plug element disposed to be borne upon and unseated by said rod-like element upon the latter being moved outwardly incidentally to undue lateral excursion of said outer edge of said flat spring.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-11-16 | 1980-05-17 | 1980-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-11-16 | 1984-05-17 | 1984-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-11-16 | 1988-05-17 | 1988-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |