Patent US5633096A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4362439A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4362439A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydrostatically operated underwater pile driver and method of operating same
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1981-03-02
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Granted: 1982-12-07
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Expires: 2001-03-02
Abstract
Abstract An underwater pile driver assembly that includes a vertically disposed tubular housing that may slidably engage the upper end portion of a pile, with the housing having an upper open end, and the housing supporting an anvil that may be placed in abutting contact with the pile. An impact imparting ram is slidably and sealingly mounted in the housing, and may be successively raised to a first position therein. Pump means are provided to successively evacuate water from the interior of the housing between the ram and anvil. After each evacuation the ram is released to be forced downwardly by the hydrostatic head imposed on the upper surface thereof to impact the anvil, with the force imparted to the anvil being transverse to the pile to drive the latter downwardly. The greater the distance of the upper end of the housing from the surface of the water, the greater will be the magnitude of the downward force exerted on the pile each time the ram impacts the anvil. The ram has at least one transverse opening therein that has a movable member operatively associated therewith. On the downward movement of the ram the member closes the opening, and on the upward stroke of the ram the closure member moves to a second position to allow the interior of the housing to be flooded with water, and equalize the water pressure above and below the ram to permit it to be raised to the first position with a minimum of energy.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter P. Vaynkof
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:36
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02D; E02D7/00; E02D7/02; E02D7/20; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S173/00; Y10S173/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
402 words
A device capable of being disposed a substantial distance below the surface of a body of water to drive a pile having an upper end by the hydrostatic force exerted downwardly on said device, said device including: a. a housing assembly that includes an elongate tubular member that has upper and lower open ends, said lower open end capable of slidably engaging said upper end of said pile when said device is vertically disposed and coaxially aligned with said pile; an anvil in said tubular member in contact with said upper end of said pile; a ram slidably movable in said tubular member, said ram capable of occupying either a first position adjacent said upper open end or a second position in contact with said anvil; and a stop that limits said ram from being moved upwardly above said first position in said tubular member, said ram having at least one opening extending transversely therethrough, said anvil, an intermediate portion of said tubular member and said ram defining a first confined space when said ram is in said first position, said tubular member having an opening therein; b. first means on said ram that when in a first position obstructs said opening and in a second position does not obstruct said opening; c. second means for raising said ram from said second to said first position; d. third means for removably supporting said ram in said first position; and e. fourth means in communication with said opening for evacuating water from said first confined space when said ram is in said first position and said first means in said first position, with said ram when released by said third means being driven downwardly in said tubular member by the weight of a column of said water thereabove to impact on said anvil, and the force of said impact being transferred from said anvil to said pile to drive the latter downwardly, with said first means being moved to said second position, said second means moving said ram to said first position with water from said body of water exerting equal but oppositely directed forces on the top and bottom of said ram, said support means removably engaging said ram when the latter reaches said first position in said tubular member with said ram being successively moved between said first and second positions until said pile has been driven to a desired depth.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
402 words
A device capable of being disposed a substantial distance below the surface of a body of water to drive a pile having an upper end by the hydrostatic force exerted downwardly on said device, said device including: a. a housing assembly that includes an elongate tubular member that has upper and lower open ends, said lower open end capable of slidably engaging said upper end of said pile when said device is vertically disposed and coaxially aligned with said pile; an anvil in said tubular member in contact with said upper end of said pile; a ram slidably movable in said tubular member, said ram capable of occupying either a first position adjacent said upper open end or a second position in contact with said anvil; and a stop that limits said ram from being moved upwardly above said first position in said tubular member, said ram having at least one opening extending transversely therethrough, said anvil, an intermediate portion of said tubular member and said ram defining a first confined space when said ram is in said first position, said tubular member having an opening therein; b. first means on said ram that when in a first position obstructs said opening and in a second position does not obstruct said opening; c. second means for raising said ram from said second to said first position; d. third means for removably supporting said ram in said first position; and e. fourth means in communication with said opening for evacuating water from said first confined space when said ram is in said first position and said first means in said first position, with said ram when released by said third means being driven downwardly in said tubular member by the weight of a column of said water thereabove to impact on said anvil, and the force of said impact being transferred from said anvil to said pile to drive the latter downwardly, with said first means being moved to said second position, said second means moving said ram to said first position with water from said body of water exerting equal but oppositely directed forces on the top and bottom of said ram, said support means removably engaging said ram when the latter reaches said first position in said tubular member with said ram being successively moved between said first and second positions until said pile has been driven to a desired depth.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device as defined in claim 1 in which said first means is a member pivotally supported from an upper surface of said ram adjacent said opening that seals with said ram when said member is in said first position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
A device as defined in claim 1 in which said second means is an assembly that includes a cable that extends upwardly from said ram, and a power driven reel that occupies a fixed position relative said tubular member, said cable winding and unwinding from said reel, and said reel allowing free downward movement of said cable when said reel is not power driven.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device as defined in claim 3 in which said cable is connected to said pivotally supported member and moves said member to said second position when said cable is tentioned to move said ram upwardly in said tubular member from said second to said first position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
90 words
A device as defined in claim 1 in which said fourth means includes: f. a second confined space defining structure; g. a conduit that extends from said opening in said tubular member to the interior of said second confined space defining structure; and h. pump means in communication with the interior of said second confined space defining structure for pumping water therefrom to drain water from said first confined space there into and evacuate said first confined space prior to said ram moving from said first to said second position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A device as defined in claim 5 in which said conduit has a valve therein that may occupy either a closed or open position, with said valve being closed when said ram is moved from said second to said first position, and open when said ram moves from said first to said second position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as defined in claim 1 in which said second means is a toothed vertically disposed rack secured to said ram, and a power driven sprocket rotatably supported from said tubular member in engagement with said rack.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device as defined in claim 1 in which said first means are a plurality of flat pivotally supported members on said ram that sealingly overlap one another when in said first position.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
208 words
A method of driving a pile that is a substantial distance below the surface of a body of water that includes the steps of: a. engaging an upper portion of said pile with a vertically extending tubular member said member having an upper open end; b. positioning an anvil in said tubular member in abutting contact with said pile; c. disposing a ram in said tubular member in slidable sealing contact with the interior thereof said ram having at least one transverse opening therein; d. raising said ram in said tubular member to a substantial distance above said anvil, with water flowing through said transverse opening to equalize the hydraulic pressure above and below said ram; e. closing said opening when said ram is a desired distance above said anvil; f. evacuating the water between said ram and anvil in said tubular member; g. allowing the hydrostatic head above said ram to drive the latter downwardly to impact said anvil, with the force of said impact being transferred to said pile to drive the latter downwardly; h. opening said transverse opening and moving said ram upwardly to said substantial distance above said anvil and repeating the above described steps until said pile is driven to a desired depth.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
208 words
A method of driving a pile that is a substantial distance below the surface of a body of water that includes the steps of: a. engaging an upper portion of said pile with a vertically extending tubular member said member having an upper open end; b. positioning an anvil in said tubular member in abutting contact with said pile; c. disposing a ram in said tubular member in slidable sealing contact with the interior thereof said ram having at least one transverse opening therein; d. raising said ram in said tubular member to a substantial distance above said anvil, with water flowing through said transverse opening to equalize the hydraulic pressure above and below said ram; e. closing said opening when said ram is a desired distance above said anvil; f. evacuating the water between said ram and anvil in said tubular member; g. allowing the hydrostatic head above said ram to drive the latter downwardly to impact said anvil, with the force of said impact being transferred to said pile to drive the latter downwardly; h. opening said transverse opening and moving said ram upwardly to said substantial distance above said anvil and repeating the above described steps until said pile is driven to a desired depth.
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) | 1985-12-06 | 1986-06-07 | 1986-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-12-06 | 1990-06-07 | 1990-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-12-06 | 1994-06-07 | 1994-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |