Method and apparatus for facilitating the subterranean support of underground conduits having a fixed insertion axis
First Claim
1. A pile driver and sheet pile combination, comprising:
- a pile driver having a clamp and a head portion configured for connection to an articulated boom, said head portion being rotatable relative to the articulated boom about a first pivot element that defines an insertion axis, said clamp having a pair of opposing clamp surfaces adapted to engage a section of sheet pile, said insertion axis being spaced from said opposing clamp surfaces by an insertion distance; and
a section of curved sheet pile having a pile radius of curvature, said pile radius of curvature being substantially equal to said insertion distance, wherein, with said section of curved sheet pile secured between said opposing clamp surfaces of said clamp, a point defining a center of said pile radius of curvature lies substantially on said insertion axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vibratory pile driver configured to insert curved sheet pile beneath a conduit by rotating the pile driver about a fixed pivot element to advance the curved sheet pile along a fixed arc. In one exemplary embodiment, the distance between the fixed pivot element and the clamps that secured the curved sheet pile to the pile driver is the same as the radius of curvature of the curved sheet pile. In another exemplary embodiment, when the curved sheet pile is secured to the pile driver by the clamps, the center of the radius of curvature of the curved sheet pile lies substantially on the rotational axis of the fixed pivot element. In this embodiment, the vibratory pile driver may be rotated about the fixed pivot element to advance the curved sheet pile along an arc having curvature substantially identical to the radius of curvature of the curved sheet pile.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A pile driver and sheet pile combination, comprising:
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a pile driver having a clamp and a head portion configured for connection to an articulated boom, said head portion being rotatable relative to the articulated boom about a first pivot element that defines an insertion axis, said clamp having a pair of opposing clamp surfaces adapted to engage a section of sheet pile, said insertion axis being spaced from said opposing clamp surfaces by an insertion distance; and a section of curved sheet pile having a pile radius of curvature, said pile radius of curvature being substantially equal to said insertion distance, wherein, with said section of curved sheet pile secured between said opposing clamp surfaces of said clamp, a point defining a center of said pile radius of curvature lies substantially on said insertion axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A vibratory pile driver system, comprising:
a vibratory pile driver, comprising; a head portion having a first pivot element configured to connect said head portion to an articulated boom, said first pivot element defining an insertion axis about which said vibratory pile driver is rotatable; a body secured to said head portion by a second pivot element, said second pivot element defining a body axis of rotation about which said body is rotatable relative to said head portion; a vibration generator; and a clamp having an upper clamp surface and a lower clamp surface, at least one of said upper clamp surface and said lower clamp surface actuatable relative to the other of said upper clamp surface and said lower clamp surface between an open position configured for receipt of a section of curved sheet pile and a closed position configured to secure a section of curved sheet pile between said upper clamp surface and said lower clamp surface, wherein, with said upper clamp surface and said lower clamp surface in a closed position, said upper clamp surface and said lower clamp surface extend along a plane that is perpendicular to a line extending perpendicularly from said insertion axis to said upper clamp surface and said lower clamp surface. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A pile driver and sheet pile combination, comprising:
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a pile driver having a head portion configured for connection to an articulated boom, said head portion being rotatable relative to the articulated boom about a first pivot element that defines an insertion axis; said pile driver including a body having an upper portion connected to said head portion, a foot portion and sides extending between the upper and foot portions; a clamp extending laterally outwardly beyond one of said sides, said clamp having a pair of opposing clamp surfaces moveable between an open position and a closed position, said insertion axis being spaced from said opposing clamp surfaces by an insertion distance measured when said opposing clamp surfaces are in a closed position; and a section of curved sheet pile having a pile radius of curvature, said pile radius of curvature being substantially equal to said insertion distance, wherein, with said section of curved sheet pile secured between said opposing clamp surfaces of said clamp, a point defining a center of said pile radius of curvature lies substantially on said insertion axis.
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14. A method of inserting a section of curved sheet pile beneath a conduit buried underground, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a section of curved sheet pile having a pile radius of curvature; providing a pile driver having a pivot element with a spatially fixed axis and a clamp, said clamp having a pair of opposing clamp surfaces adapted to engage a section of sheet pile; securing the section of curved sheet pile to the pile driver with the clamp; positioning the pile driver and curved sheet pile adjacent subterranean material supporting a conduit; and rotating the pile driver about the pivot element fixed axis to advance the curved sheet pile beneath the conduit without otherwise substantially altering the position of the pile driver. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification