CA1291024C - Hydraulic concrete pile cutter - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

The invention relates to a hydraulic guillotine including a blade and a method of cutting reinforced concrete piles at grade. The blade is a metal plate having a beveled cutting edge extending across most of one edge, bordered by unbeveled side portions, adapted to slide in channels. The blade may be demountable from a pusher plate, which enables the blade to be changed. The hydraulic guillotine comprises a rear plate adapted to hold one or two hydraulic cylinders to actuate the pusher plate. Two hydraulic cylinders are preferred, because they have less tendency to jam the blade, during use. An anvil or stop extends across the outer ends of the channels, and is preferably removable. The rear plate is preferably mountable on a construction vehicle boom, which allows leveling and raising and lowering the cutter. Methods of cutting using the device are described.

Description

H~DRAULlC CONCRETE PILE CUTTER

This invention relates in one aspect to a cutter for concrete piles; and in another aspect to a method of cutting concrete piles.

B KGRO ND OF INVENTION

Most laryer buildinys today are constructed u~ing concrete piles. Typically these concrete piles are he~agonal in cross section and have lenyths varying from 20 to 80 feet (6 to 24 meters), they have diameters of 12, 14 and 16 inches (305, 355 and 405 mm, nominal), and weigh between 1.28 and 9.10 (short) ~ons (1.16 to 8.255 metric tonnes). Reinforcing metal strands, typically 5iX in number, extend longitudinally of the pile, with a spirally wound reinforcing rod outside the longitudinal reinforcing strand~.

Although the piles themselves have considerable compressive strength, the concrete only has about 35 MPa (abou~ 5000 psi) lateral strength. After the piles have heen driven into the ground they are cut o~ at about grale level, to provic1e support for a bu.ilding fl~or or concrete slab. After cuttin~, the top of the cut piles are pulverized to remove the concre-te, while retaining the metal reinforcement intact, to allow for pouring of concrete or cement around the rein~orcement. The amount of the plle which is pulverized is typically 18 .inches (46 or so cm), and may be varied to comply with engineering ~pecifications.
The piles cannot be cut to the proper ~ize before they are driven. The piles must be cut after being placed.

Common methods of cuttin~ piles at grade level involve the use of hydraulic concre-te hreakers, typically mounted on a hydraulically equipped backhoe or other construction vehicle. Alternatively circular saws, and blasting are used. Hydraulic concrete breakers tend to split the piles 9~L~3~

below gracle level. The proportion of piles damagecl by splitting is typically between about 1 damaged pile in 4 (25~), and about 1 damaged pile in 15 ~approx. ~%~. In some cities this method is not allowed by building ~nspectors.
Blastiny techni~ues to trim or cut off the top of the pile to grade level, or the use of jack hammers (pneumatic drills), are both dangerous to personnel and economically costly. None o-f the current methods are entlrely satisfactory, and all are very costly.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a ~evice specifically intended to cut concrete piles. A
further principal object of the invention to provide an improved method of cutting concrete piles. Other and further objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the specification, claims and drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Hydraulic stone cuttin~ devices are known, but are not structured for cutting concrete piles. Typically hydraulic cutters have pa~red vertically opposed knives. Such devices are taught in Canadlan Patent 1676B4 issuecl to Stroud, Feb.
16, 1916, U.S. Patent 2,808,822 issued to Celapino, Oc-t. 8, lg5Y, U.S. Paten-t 3,392,719 issued to Clanton et al, July 16, 1968, Canadian Patent 909,672 issued to Manyis, Sep. 12, 1972, and ~.S. Patent 3,727,600 :issued to Schlough, Apr, 17, 1973. None of these devices are suitable ~or cutting piles horizontally.
Hydraulic loy splittiny devices incorporat.ing a rammer o~posed to a cutting blade are known, but are not capable of cuttiny concrete piles. Typically the~e operate horlzontally, although the cutting blade itsel~ is often vertical. Such devices are taught in Canadian Patent 1,142,417 issued to Denzer, March 8, 1983, Canadian Patent 1,143,255 issued to Nickerson, March 8, 1983, and Canadian Patent 1,219,789 issued to Wirsbinski et al, March 31, 198~.

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None of these devices i~ itable ~or ~hear:irly or cutting concrete plles.

A specific pile breaking device is taught in Internatlon~1 Construction, September lg88 issue, page 52.
This device has four pairs of opposed hydraulically driven knives or cutters. This device would appear to function by shattering the top of the pile rather than cutting or shearing action. The device is also crane mounted, and thus not very practical for cutt:ing concrete piles.

The requireme~-ts for a pile cutting or shearing device are quite restrictive. A system of paired oppc~ed cutter blades will only work if both blades move towards each other at equal rates, which prevents lateral stress on the pile.
Lateral stress on the pile tends to cause the pile to split at or below grade. Split piles are unacceptable to building inspectors.

The approach wi-th one fixed cutter blade and another opposed moving cutter blade has the same disadvantaye. The moviny blade tends to push the pile sideway5, creating lateral stres5, and consequent possible pile splitting at or below grade. Two versions were considerecl a fixed ~top with a moving cutter, and a fix~d cutter with a moving stop.

The ~ixed cutter with a moviny stop has the same disadvantage as the fixed cutter oppo~ed to the moving cutter, only more so. The pile i5 necessarlly pushed sideways creating lateral stress which may cause damage or splitting to the pile. This lateral ~tress on the pile can in theory be overcome by moving the entire cutter to elimina-te stress. In practice this in-troduoes wlnecessary complication into the device.

Any lateral stress tends to split the pile below yrade level, in the same ~ay as the hydraulic concrete breaker.
When a pile is damaged by splittin~, another pile should be ~ ~91~)2~
driven as a substitute.

This left the single moving cutter blade with a fixed stop as the best alternat1ve. The stop merely has to withs-tand the pressure of the pile against it, and so only has to be strong enough to do so. The stop should be small enough to be inserted between adjacent piles, which can be fairly close together in groups. It should also be removable for the ~same reason, i.e. to allow entry of the cutter into areas of crowded piles.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The inven-tion is basically a hydraulic guillotine.

The term l'mild steel" as used herein refers to commonly available steel o~ least hardness. The term "hard steel" as used herein re~ers to all grades of steel harder than mild steel, especially those suitable for use as tool steels, tool die steels, including carbide steels and carbide tipped steels, for example tungs-ten carbide tipped steels. As will be understood by those skllled in t~e art a wide variety of su:itable hard materials includincJ but not limited to the above noted steels may be utilized in the cuttincg edge o~
the clevice.

In one broad aspect the inven-t:ion provi~es a cuttiny apparat-us for cutting a concrete pile hav:ing metal reinforcements, a-t a predeterminecl height comprlsing frame means. Hydraulic ram means are mounted upon the frame means. The ram means has extensible ancl retractable piston rod means. Parallel spaced apart channel means having first and seconcl ends, and a transverse anvil means are also present. The irst ends of the channel means are operatively associated with the frame means. The second ends of the channel means are operatively associated with the transverse anvil means. The cutter blade means are fixedly secured -to and movable with the piston rod means.

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The cutter bla~e means ha~ upper allcl :Lower ~urface~, fxorlt and rear surfaces, and side surfaces. The sicle surface~ are adjacent the front aurface, which has a cutting edye aclapted to cut a concre-te pile. The cutting edge extends orl the ~ront ~urface between the side su:rfaces. The cutting edge ha~ a degree of hardness at least equal to mild steel. The cutter blade means extends between the channel means and is slidable therein between a ~irst retracted positioll and a second extended position. The second extended position is adjacent the transverse anvil means. A concrete pile having metal reinforcements between the anvil means and the cutter blade means can be cut by moving the cutter blade means from ~he first position to the second position cuttirlg the concrete pile and shearing the metal reinforcements.

The cutter hlade does not have to be particularly strong a~ typical piles only have a lateral strength of 35 Mpa (abou-t 5000 psi). This strength is not significantly stronger than poured concrete pathways or roads. The cutting edge of the blade can advantageou~ly be made of very hard material, as this will lengthen its working life.
Softer materials will wear out faster, and often too fast -to be practical. Economically -the material Eor the cut-ting edge can be hard s-teel, of the type referred to as tool steel or tool die stee.l. The cut-tiny eclge can also be made from tool carbides, including for example -tungs-ten (wolEram) carbide, WC. Even harder material~ may be used. There i5 no theoretical upper limit on the hardness of the material for the cutting edge. In practice even mild steel may be u~ed for the cutt:lng edge of the bklde, althouyh this has a comparatively short working life. A mild steel cut-ting eclye may be used pe:rhaps 40 times, with con-tinual resharpenirlg.

In practice the blade must be thick enough or rigid enough not to buckle, Eor example ~/8 inch (22 mm) or 1 il~ch (25 mm), ancl can ~e a sinyle plate, with a front beveled portion forming a knife, or alternatively a scissor s-tyle cut-ting eclge. The fron-t edges of the blade should fill the channels as otherwise dllst and -the like accumulate~ in the channels. The blade means may include means to attach it demowntably to pusher mean~. In this way a hard hlade may be u-tilized, without the expense of providing an entire plate Oe expensive ma-terial. More preferably the c-utting edge is hard steel.

The distance between extended and retracted posltlons is -the stroke of the hydraulic ram, in theory 16 inches (41 or so cm) is sufficient, but as would be appreciated by those skilled in the art, this distance is critical as the hydraulic ram stroke must be greater than the largest pile to be cut. The blade must ~e at least as long as the stroke to cut through the pile. In practice the ~troke is advantageously at least 2 inches ~5 cmj greater than the lar~est pile -to be Cllt, and 1~ inches (46 cm) is preferred.
As would be understoocl by those skilled in the art, the len~th oE the stroke can be changed to adap-t to circumstances. As would also be understood by those skilled ~O in the art, the dimensions o~ the device can similarly be varied.

The anvil must be of sufficient s-trength to withstand the pressure applied to it. One .inch (25 mm) thick mild steel has a tendency -to buckle or warp. A 7/8 inch (22 mm) or 1 :Lnch (25 mm) plate with two similar thickness plates welded top and bottom to give a total thickne~s of 2 5/8 inches (67 mm), or 3 inches (76 mm), was found to be suf~iciently ~trorlcJ. A~ woulcl be appreciated by those skilled in -the art, the dimensions of the anvil are not critical as lon~ as the strength is sufficient. Preferably the anvil is demountably attached to the channel means.

Convenientlv the frame means includes attaching means For demountably attaching it to a boom of a construction vehicle. Attaching means are conventional and a wide variety of such means are known in the ar~. A backhoe rea~
bucket boom is preferred ~or tnis purpose for ,~..~,.
~1",~, ~X~ 3;~

maneuverablli-ty. However any constructiorl vehlcle with a bac:khoe boom, or a similarly desicgned or adapted boom, may he used, ~or example a front loader boom. The at-taching mean~ enables loweriny and leveling of the cutter.

The parallel channel means may compri~e an outer s:ide wall, a top wall and a bottom wall. The top and bottom walls may conveniently be of 7~8 inch (22 mm) steel, with a 1 inch (25 mm) high inner side wall, which allows a 7/8 inch cutter plate to slide in the channel. The dlmensions of both channel and blade may be altered as would be appreciated by thoge skilled in the art. For examplc a 1 inch (25 m~) cut-ter blade could slide in -the channel formed by a 1 1~16 inch (27 mmj hiyh :inner side wall.

The hydraulic ram means may be in the ~orm of a single hydraulic cylinder, although when used care must be exercised to avoid jamming. Desirably the ram comprises paired hydraulic cylinder means mounted, preferably by brackets, on the frame means. The piston rods means of the cylinders are fixedly secured -to the cutter blade means, thus providing a hicgher, more uniform pressure, and resulting in the blade having much less tendency to jam.
Multiple hydraulic cylinders can be used, bu-t two cylinders are a simple and con~enient varia-tion, providiny the dev1ce with maneuverability and compactness, as well as negligible jamming.

The frame means may conveniently be a rectangular metal pla-te adapted to mount the hydraulic ram means. Preferably, the parallel channel means have an outer side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, with the bo-ttom wall being an integral continuation of the metal plate. Reinforciny rib~
can extend along the underside of the plate, ancl continue under -the hottom walls of -the channels. When the channel means includes an outer side wall, a -top wall and a bottom wall, the transver~se anvil means is preferably demoun-tably attached -to the channel mean~. Rèmovable pins extend ~ ~3~

through aligned holes in the channel top wall, the transverse anvil means and the channel bo-ttom wall. The middle plate o~ the anvil may be conveniently 7/8 inch (22 mm) thick to fit removably in a 1 inch (25 mm) gap between top and bottom cha~nel walls; or it may be 1 inch (25 mm) thick, when the gap i5 1 1/16 inch (27 mm). The pins may be 3/4 inch (19 mm) or 7/8 inch (22 mm) or 1 inch (25 mrn) in diameter. The precise diameter i5 not critical as lony as the pins do not shear or warp during the cutting operation.
Preferably the blade means includes means for demountably attaching -the blade mean~ to a pu~her means.

It is especially preferred that ~utter apparatus includes as follows in combination; particularly that the frame means comprises substantially rectangular me-tal plate ~neans, which has bracket means for demountably attaching the plate means to a boom of a construction veh;cle. The cutting edge is preferably at least as hard as hard steel.
The cutter means preferably has pusher portion means demountably attached to the blade portion. The pusher portion has side surfaces adapted to slide in the channel means. The hydralllic ram rneans preferably has paired hydraulic cylinder means mounted on the rectangwlar plate means. The pi.ston rods means of the cylinders are fixedly secured to the cutter blade means pusher portion.

The hydraulic controls and its actuating ~echanism may be -the type conventionally associated w:ith a construction vehicle. When the cutter is mounted in a construction vehicle, the en-t;re operation can be contro:Lled from -the construction vehicle driver's seat.

In another aspect the invention provicles a method of cutting concrete piles having metal reinforcements at a predetermined height by a pile cutting assembly. This pile cutting assembly including parallel spaced apart channel means being operatively associated with transverse anvil a OZ~

rneans at one encl, cutter blade mean5 extenclirly between -the channel means ancl being slidable therein between a f.i.r~t retracted position and a second extencled position, the second extended position bein~ adjacent the transverse anvil. The method includes the steps of (a) firstly aligning the parallel channel means in a substantially horizontal plane at a predetermined height about a concrete pile, whereby the concrete pile is ad~acent the anvil means and between the anvil means, the cutter blade means .in first retracted position and the channel means, ~b) secondly moving the cutter blacle means from the retracted posi-tion -to a second extended positlon to cu-t through the concrete pile and additionally shearingly cut through the metal reinforcements of the concrete pile.

When the transverse anvil means is demountably attached to the channel means, step (a) .includes the steps of (c) removing the transverse anvil means from the Ghannel means, (d) alic3ning the parallel channel means in a substantially horizontal plane at a predeterm:ined height - ~bout a concrete pile, so that the concrete pile is adjac,ent the ends of the parallel channel mean~ and be-tween -the ends o~ the parallel challnel mean~, and -the cut-ter blade means in Eirst retracted position, (e) replacing the transverse anvil means in position :in the parallel channel means adjacent the concrete pile.

r~
~, ~1 ~9~4 The parallel c~lanrlel means may comprlse an outer side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall. In this ca~e the transverse anvil mean~s can be demountably attachec1 to the parallel channel means, by a pair o~ removable pins extendiny thro~gh al:iyned holes irn the channel top wall, the transverse anvil means and the channel bo-ttom wall. rJnder these circumstances in a first var:lation, step (c~ can include the steps of, ~ f) removiny a first removable pin Erom a firs-t channel means, (y) swiveling the transverse anvil about a second pin in a second channel means from a closed position to an open position, when step (e) will include -the steps of, (h) swiveliny the transverse a~vil means abou-t the second pin from an open posit:io~ to a closed position, (i) replacing the first removable pin.

In a second variation uIlder the same circumstances step (c) can include -the steps of, (j) removiny the removable pins Erom both the channel means, (k) removiny the transverse anvil means, when step (e) will include the steps of, (1) ~eplacing the transverse anvil means irl position i:n the parallel channel means, (m) replaciny the removable pins in both ~he channel means.

General:ly the pins are no-t removed ancl replaced cluriny a pile cuttiny operation on a site, but are present to allow complete cu-tting of all piles on a site howeve:r awkwardly placed.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
_____ __ ___ ~____ ___ ___ ____ __ _ _ Preferred embodiment~ are inc1icatecl irl the drawings where:

124~

Fi~ a top part plan, part sectional view o~ a cutter of the invention;
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal part sec-tional part elevational view of the cutter of Fig. l;
Fig. 3 i8 a part cross sectional, part ele~ational view of the cutter of Fig. l;
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of one embodiment of a blade plate of the invention;
Fig. 5 is sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a blade plate of the invention;
Fig. 6 is a plan view of the blade plate of Fi~. 6;
Fig. 7 is a side view of a brac~et arrangement suitable for mounting the cutter of the invention on a construction vehicle;
Fig. 8 is a schematic view of a hydraulic arrangement o~ the invention;
Fig. 9 is a side view of a hydraulic cylinder bracke-t embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 10 is a plan view of an alternative hydraulic cylinder arrangement to that of Fig. 1.

The general description of the invention is now expanded by reference to the drawings, which illustrate pre~erred e~bodiments of the invention. Figs. 1 to 'l, 9 and 10 illustrate pre~erred embodiments of the invention omitting details of hydraulics. Fig. 8 is a schematic of an embodiment of hydraulics. The cutter generally indicated by numeral 10, is adapted to cut a reinforced concrete pile indicated by broken outline 12, includes base plate 14, which has rear portion 16 and lateral forward arms 18 and 20, blade plate 22 comprising rear pusher plate 23 and cutter blade 2~, cwtter blade comprises beveled blad0 portion 25, and plate portion 26, blade plate rests on base plate 4. Blade plate 22 is slidable in channels 23 and 30, formed by side pieces 32 and 34, welded to base plate 14, and top pieces 36 and 38, welded to side pieces 32 and 34 respectively. Anvil gate 40 ~orms a stop for the forward movement of the blade, anvil ~ate 40 has anvil plate 42, ancl ' ~4 ~ ~9~

upper rein~orcing block 44 and lower reinforcincJ b:l~ck 46.

Anvil gate 40 is held in position by removable pins 48 and 50, passin~ through top pieces 36 and 38 and base plate forward ar~s 18 and 20. Removal of one pin allow~ swiveling o~ the anvil gate, about the other p.in. In one embodiment of the cutter, shown in Fig. 1, the rear portion 16 of base plate 14 has hole 52. At the rear of hole 52 are rear brac~ets 54 and 56, adapted to mount hydraulic cylinders 58 and 60, by brac~et~ 62 and 64 respectively. The cylinders are held in position by threaded bolt 66 pas~ing through holes in the brackets, enga~ed by nut 68. Hydraulic cylinder plston rod 70 has welded flange 72, while piston rod 74 has welded flan~e 76. These flanges 72 and 76 are engaged by paired brackets 78, 80 and 82, 84 mounted on bracket support plate support 86 welded to rear blade pla~e 23. The piston rods 70 and ~4 are held in relative position hy threadecl bolt 8~ passing through holes in the flanges and brackets. Nut 90 engages threaded bolt 88 and holds it in position. Reinforcing ribs 92 and 94 welded underneath base plate 14, strengthen the ba~e plate. Lower cross strut 96 supports the bottom of cylinders 58 and 60, upper cross strut 98 held by bolts 100, and 102, ~ecured by nuts 104, and 106 acro~s the tops o~ cylinder~ 58 and 60 hold the cylinders in place. Bolts 100 and 102 pa~s upward through lower cro~ strut 96, and rear base plate 16. Nut 105 on the upper surface of plate 16, engayes the mid part of bolt 102 to holcl lower cross strut 96 in po~ition. Cylinders 58 and 60 re~t on lower cros~ stru-t 9~. The top ends of bolts 100 and 102 continue upward through upper cros~ strut 98, Nuts 104 and 106 engage the top ends of bolts 100 and 102, and secure upper cross strut 98 against the tops of cylinders 58 ancl 60. In an alternative embodiment (shown in Fig. 10) at the rear of hole 52 is rear bracket 55 adapted to moun~ hydraulic cylinder ~9 by bracket 65 respectively, the cylincler is held in position by threacled bolt 66 pas~ing through holes in the bracket~, engaged by nut 68. Hydraulic cylinder piston rod 73 has welcled Elanye 75. Welded flanye - . .

~L~9~

75 i~ engagec~ by paired brackets 81, 83 mourlted on brat,ket support plate support^ 86. Bracket support plate 86 is welded to rear blade plate 23. Piston rod 73 i~ held in relative position by threaded bolt 88 passing through holes in the flange and brac~ets. Nu-t 90 engages threacled bolt 8B
and holds it in position.

The cutter blade 24 may be attached to rear pu~her pla~e 23, by two preferred ways. In both, a groove i~ the p~sher plate rece.ives a tongue of the cut-ter b:Lade. In one embodiment a dovetailed tongue 108 ~lidably ~it~ within dovetailed groove 110. In the other embodiment, tongue 112 is secured within groove or housing 114, by a series of threaded bolts 116 in t-hreadecl holes 118.

A construction vehicle boom generally indicated by numeral 120 may be used to hold cu-tter 10, using hooks 122 and 124 mounted on rear base plate 16, these hooks engage stubs 125 and 128 of boom 120, and thus allow positioning and leveling of cutter 10.

The hydraulic circuitry, shown schematically in Fig. 8, is supplied by palred hydraulic lines 122 and 124 leading to hydraulic control valve 126 controlled by lever 128, lines 130 and 131 connect control valve to junction connectors 132 and 1~2 respect.ively. ~'ron~ junction connector 13~ connec,ts to line 134 leading to rod terminal 138 of cylinder 58, and al~o to line 136 leaclin~ to rod terminal 140 of cylinder 60.
Rear junction connector 1~2 connects to line 14~ leading to piston terminal 148 of cylinder 58, and also to line 146 leading to piston terminal 150 of cylinder 60. By moving lever 128, hydraulic cylinders 58 and 60 can be actuated in synchronis~, moving rods 70 and 74 in unison thus ev~nly advancing or withdrawing blade plate 22. I,ines 130 and 131 can be considerably longer than shown and the hydraulic control valve and lever may be advarltayeously part of a conventional construction vehicle hydraulic system.

~1 291~
In u~e the device .is mountecl on a boom moun~ecl on a construction vehicle, or similar vehicle, under ~peci~l circumstances a crane boom could be used. The cutter plate 10 is brought close to the pile, the pile 12 is placed in position between ~ide arms 18 and 20, closed anvil ~ate 40 ancl cut~er blade 22. If necessary, anvil yate 40 is unpinned, by removal of pin 48 or 50, and opened. Cutter base plate 14 is then levelled at a suitable heigh-t at grade, then the hydralllic control valve 126 actuates cylinders 58 and 60 pushing cutter blade 22 throu0h the pile until it reaches anvil blade 40, the hydraulic cylinder strokes are identical, and the cylinder~ are so po~itioned that the blade when fully extended nearly touche~ anvil cJate 40. The pile butt resting on top of blade 22 is removed, and hydraulic control valve actuates cutter blade 22 withdrawincg it away from anvil cgate 40. The cutter 10 is then removed. If 'che piles are very close together, then anvil gate 40 may be completely removed, by withdrawin~ pins 48 and 50, during maneuvering of the cutter 10, and replaced when the cutter is in position.

Although the invention is described with reference to the above no-ted reinforced concre-te plles, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is applicable to other styles of concrete piles of different cross ~ection and internal 3tructures.

As those skilled in the art would real:ise these preferred illustrated dimensions, details and components can be subjected to substantial varia-tion, moclification, change, alteration, and substitution without affecting or modifying the function of the illustrated embodiments. Although embodiment~ of the invention have heen described above, it is not limited thereto, and it will be apparen-t to persons skilled in the art that numerous modification~ and variation~ form part of the present invent.ion insofar a~
they do not depart from the spirit, nature and scope of the claimecl ancl described invention.

Claims (13)

1. A cutting apparatus for cutting a concrete pile having metal reinforcements at a predetermined height comprising frame means, hydraulic ram means mounted upon said frame means, said ram means having extensible and retractable piston rod means, parallel spaced apart channel means having first and second ends, and transverse anvil means, said first ends of said channel means being operatively associated with said frame means, said second ends of said channel means being operatively associated with said transverse anvil means, cutter blade means fixedly secured to and movable with said piston rod means, said cutter blade means including upper and lower surfaces, front and rear surfaces, and side surfaces, said side surfaces being adjacent said front surface, said side surfaces being adapted to slide in said parallel channel means, said front surface comprising a cutting edge adapted to cut concrete piles, said cutting edge extending on said front surface between said side surfaces, said cutting edge having a hardness at least equal to mild steel, said cutter blade being slidable in said channel means between a first retracted position and a second extended position, said second extended position being adjacent said transverse anvil means, whereby a concrete pile having metal reinforcements between said anvil means and said cutter blade means can be cut by moving said cutter blade means from said first position to said second position cutting said concrete pile and shearing said metal reinforcements.

2. The cutting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said transverse anvil means is demountably attached to said channel means.

3. The cutting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said frame means includes means for demountably attaching said frame means to a boom of a construction vehicle.

4. The cutting apparatus of claim 1, wherein each said channel means includes an outer side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall.

5. The cutting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said hydraulic ram means includes paired hydraulic cylinder means mounted by said frame means, the piston rods means of said cylinders being fixedly secured to and movable with said cutter blade means.

6. The cutting apparatus of claim 4, wherein said transverse anvil means is demountably attached to said channel means, by removable pins extending through aligned holes in said channel top wall said transverse anvil means and said channel bottom wall.

7. The cutting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cutter blade means includes means for demountably attaching said cutter blade means to a pusher means.

8. The cutting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cutting edge comprises hard steel.

9. A cutting apparatus for cutting a concrete pile having metal reinforcements at a predetermined height comprising frame means including a substantially rectangular metal plate, said rectangular metal plate comprising means for demountably attaching said plate to a boom of a construction vehicle, hydraulic ram means mounted upon said frame means, said ram means having extensible and retractable piston rod means, parallel spaced apart channel means having first and second ends, and transverse anvil means, said first ends of said channel means being operatively associated with said frame means, said second ends of said channel means being operatively associated with said transverse anvil means, each said channel means includes an outer side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, said bottom wall being an integral continuation of said metal plate, said transverse anvil means is demountably attached to said channel means, by removable pins extending through aligned holes in said channel top wall, said transverse anvil means and said channel bottom wall, cutter blade means fixedly secured to and movable with said piston rod means, said cutter blade means extending between said channel means and being slidable therein between a first retracted position and a second extended position, said second extended position being adjacent said transverse anvil means, said cutter blade means comprising blade portion means having upper and lower surfaces, front and rear surfaces, and side surfaces, said side surfaces adjacent said front surface being adapted to slide in said channel means, said front surface comprising a cutting edge adapted to cut a concrete pile, said cutting edge extending between said side surfaces adapted to slide in said channel means, said cutting edge being at least as hard as hard steel, said cutter means further comprising pusher portion means demountably attached to said blade portion, said pusher portion having side surfaces adapted to slide in said channel means, said hydraulic ram means comprising paired hydraulic cylinder means mounted in brackets on said rectangular plate, said piston rods means of said cylinders being fixedly secured to and movable with said cutter blade means pusher portion, whereby a concrete pile having metal reinforcements between said anvil means and said cutter blade means can be cut by moving said cutter blade means from said first position to said second position, cutting said concrete pile and shearing said metal reinforcements.

10. A method of cutting concrete piles having metal reinforcements, at a predetermined height by a pile cutting apparatus, said pile cutting apparatus including parallel spaced apart channel means being operatively associated with transverse anvil means at one end, cutter blade means extending between said channel means and being slidable therein between a first retracted position and a second extended position, said second extended position being adjacent said transverse anvil, the method including the steps of (a) firstly aligning said parallel channel means in a substantially horizontal plane at a predetermined height about a concrete pile, whereby said concrete pile is adjacent said anvil means and between said anvil means, said cutter blade means in first retracted position and said channel means, (b) secondly moving said cutter blade means from said retracted position to said second extended position to cut through said concrete pile and additionally shearingly cut through said metal reinforcements of said concrete pile.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said transverse anvil means is demountably attached to said channel means, and said step (a) includes the steps of (c) removing said transverse anvil means from said channel means, (d) aligning said parallel channel means in a substantially horizontal plane at a predetermined height about a concrete pile, so that said concrete pile is adjacent the ends of said parallel channel means and between the ends of said parallel channel means, and said cutter blade means in first retracted position, (e) replacing said transverse anvil means in position in said parallel channel means adjacent said concrete pile.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein each said parallel.
channel means has an outer side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, and said transverse anvil means is demountably attached to said parallel channel means, by removable pins extending through aligned holes in said channel top wall, said transverse anvil means and said channel bottom wall, wherein step (c) includes the steps of, (f) removing a first removable pin from a first channel means, (g) swiveling said transverse anvil about a second pin in a second channel means from a closed position to an open position, and wherein step (e) includes the steps of, (h) swiveling said transverse anvil means about said second pin from an open position to a closed position, (i) replacing said first removable pin.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein each said parallel channel means has an outer side wall, a top wall and a bottom wall, and said transverse anvil means is demountably attached to said parallel channel means, by removable pins extending through aligned holes in said channel top wall, said transverse anvil means and said channel bottom wall, wherein step (c) includes the steps of, (j) removing said removable pins from both said channel means, (k) removing said transverse anvil means, and wherein step (e) includes the steps of, (l) replacing said transverse anvil means in position in said parallel channel means, (m) replacing said removable pins in both said channel means.