GB1573384A

GB1573384A - Driving of bulkhead timbers and the like

Info

Publication number: GB1573384A
Application number: GB2224477A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: HANEBECK BAU GmbH
Current assignee: HANEBECK BAU GmbH
Priority date: 1976-06-01
Filing date: 1977-05-26
Publication date: 1980-08-20
Also published as: NL7704669A; DK230677A; FR2353683A1

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE DRIVING OF BULKHEAD TIMBERS AND THE LIKE (71) We, BAUGESELLSCHAFT HANEBECK mbH, a German Company, of Prinz-Friedrich-Karl-Strasse 34, 4600 Dortmund 1, Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to a device for noiselessly driving bulkhead timbers, foundation piles or similar components into the ground, the device comprising a beam structure serving as an abutment and actuating units mounted on said beam structure for driving the components into the ground.

In the case of known devices of this kind (German Specification 14 84 577 laid open to inspection), hydraulic press structures are mounted on the heads of the components to be driven into the ground, and said structures link to one another the heads of four to eight individual components with interposed hydraulic press cylinders. Linking the heads of the components by means of a superposed portion disposed over the axis of a sunken wall to be formed by the components enables one of the components at a time to be pressed into the ground. This means that the other three to seven components serve as an abutment for the purpose of providing the reaction for the downward driving force on the component to be sunk, or the necessary reaction can be produced by additional weights.

Only an intermittent mode of working is possible with these known devices, i.e. the components must be driven in echelon fashion to correspond to the maximum pistonstrokes of the press cylinders, all the cylinders in one echelon carrying out the working stroke consecutively. Then when all the press cylinders have traversed their maximum stroke path, they are all run back in an idling stroke, whereupon a new forward driving cycle begins. In this discontinuous mode of working, each interruption of the forward drive on each individual component involves overcoming separate resistances as the component begins each of its short strokes, since the ground below the component tends to become more consolidated in the idle period.

However, particular difficulties arise as work proceeds if one of the components to be introduced within the echelon to be pressed encounters an impenetrable obstacle. Then the link between the press cylinder and the head of the component must in fact be released and the component in question must be cut out, since it is impossible simply to leave the component in question stationary within the echelon. In addition, components such as foundation piles, bollards or the like standing on their own cannot be introduced with the known devices, since the latter need the other components in any particular echelon to provide an abutment.Furthermore, since the known devices require all the working press cylinders to exert thrust forces, namely on the component to be driven into the ground and tractive forces, namely as the reaction to the thrust forces, all the cylinders must be firmly linked in thrust and traction to the components, which makes the latter correspondingly expensive. The axes of the individual press cylinders must further coincide precisely with the axes of the components to be driven, and since components corresponding to differing sites and having different dimensions and raster measurements are inserted along the horizontal axis of the wall being sunk, each system has to be individually divided along that axis and thus requires a driving appliance with the cylinder clearances accurately adapted to the relevant system.

British Specification 454,228 describes a device whereby a pile is pressed into the ground by a winch acting through pulling tackle applied to a helmet on top of the pile.

When the resistance becomes so great as to prevent continuous movement a further winch operates a driving hammer to assist the pulling tackle. The entire device rests on a beam secured to the ground by earth anchors.

The problem of the invention is to provide a solution by means of which, with comparatively little expenditure on apparatus, components of the kind in question can be driven in to their full length, each individually on its own, and preferably during a continuous operation, by substantially silently operating means acting on opposed faces of the component.

According to the invention, a device for driving bulkhead timbers, foundation piles or similar components into the ground comprises a beam structure arranged in the vicinity of the surface of the ground and fixed by means of earth-anchors and thrust mechanism capable of being linked consecutively to each individual component and sinking the relevant component by acting on the component and reacting on the beam structure, the thrust mechanism comprising a frame on which is arranged a clamping device which engages two opposite lateral surfaces of the component to be driven into the ground and which clamping device can be lowered after becoming clamped to the component thereby driving the component into the ground.

This configuration does not require neighbouring components in order to produce the reaction, so that components standing individually on their own may be driven into the ground with the device in question, and also if an insurmountable obstacle appears a component within an echelon may for the time being simply be left out or left standing not driven in. It may furthermore be perceived that components of the most varied dimensions and raster measurements may readily b driven in with a device.

The frame may be arranged to be movable vertically with respect to the beam structure, and to be capable of being lowered for the purpose of carrying out a working stroke by means of actuating devices which engage between the frame or the clamping device arranged thereon and the beam structure, so that the relevant component is then driven in intermittently.

In order to attain a fully continuous driving-in movement, the frame with the clamping device may be supplemented by a second vertically movable frame with a second clamping device, and the configuration may be made such that the second frame carries out its idling stroke during the working stroke of the first frame and vice versa.

Each clamping device may take the form of an automatic wedging clamp between the frame and the component to be driven into the ground.

A particularly simple and expedient configuration results if two wedging elements are pivotably mounted on the frame and their wedging surfaces act on opposite lateral surfaces of the component to be driven, each wedging element being acted on by an actuating device which pivots it with respect to the frame, clamps it to the component, and then pulls it downwards or in the direction of the beam structure.

Should the component to be driven comprise lateral surfaces on which the wedge elements are to engage, and which are asymmetrically disposed with respect to a median line transverse to the beam structure or the planned wall-axis, as is for example the case with piles of trapezoidal cross-section, it is advisable to provide a packing element capable of being fitted between the two wedging elements, so that one of the two wedging elements then acts via this packing element on the adjacent lateral surface of the component.

Alternatively, each clamping device can take the form of a pressure device arranged on the frame and acting horizontally.

In a further modification, the frame is arranged to be at a constant height with respect to the beam structure, and the clamping device may be provided with clamping pieces, such as continuously driven fluted rollers, which roll along the component while driving it downwards.

Examples of the invention are more precisely explained hereinafter with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a front elevation of a second device for driving piles into the ground; Figure 2 shows a lateral elevation of the device according to Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a plan view of the device according to Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 shows on an enlarged scale a portion of the device of Figure 2; Figure 5 shows a plan view of part of the portion shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 shows a lateral elevation of the portion of the device appearing in Figure 4; Figure 7 shows the device according to Figures 1 to 6 in a clamping position before the beginning of a working stroke; Figure 8 shows the device according to Figures 1 to 6 in a clamping position after the end of a working stroke; ; Figure 9 shows a front elevation of a second device for driving piles into the ground; Figure 10 shows a plan view of part of the device shown in Figure 9; Figure 11 shows a front elevation of a third device for driving piles into the ground; and Figure 12 shows a plan view of part of the device shown in Figure 11.

In the case of the example shown in Figures 1 to 8, at least two earth-anchors 2, which may be made screwed, drilled or impacted in position to be discarded or recovered later, are introduced on each side of a planned wall-axis 1 (see Figure 3). The required holding forces against withdrawal are secured by the depth of insertion which is adapted according to the properties of the ground. The shanks of the anchor 2 extend by such an amount above the surface 3 of the ground that at least two of the anchors 2 disposed on each side of the wall-axis 1 can be adjustably linked by parallel beams 4.

A thrust unit 11 is mounted on each pair of beams 4 so as to be adjustable parallel to the planned wall-axis 1.

This thrust unit comprises a frame 12 with a unilateral recess 13. In the region of the recess 13 there is a clamping device 14 comprising two wedging elements 15 whereof the wedging surfaces 16 act on the one hand directly on one lateral surface 17 of a component to be driven in, namely a pile 18, and on the other hand on a packing piece 19 whereof the other lateral surface bears against the opposite surface 17 of the pile 18.

Each wedging element 15 is pivotably mounted at 20 on the frame 12, and a piston rod 21 of a hydraulic jack 22 engages in articulated fashion on an extension of each wedging element 15. A further hydraulic jack 23 of smaller bore is arranged on the frame 12 on both sides of the planned wallaxis 1, in each case in alignment with each hydraulic jack 22, as Figures 5 and 6 show.

The lower ends of the jacks 22 and 23 on each side of the planned wall-axis 1 are fixed to one another by a common baseplate 24, fastening rods extending downwards in each case from the plate 24 between the associated beams 4, being locked to the beams by retainer plates and can be displaced along the beams 4 after having been released subsequently to the driving in of a pile 18.

The device shown in Figures 1 to 8 acts in the following manner; The thrust unit 11 is first of all moved along the beams 4 into a position opposite to the particular component 18 to be driven in, the jacks 22 and 23 being extended in such a manner that the wedging elements 15 are not in tight frictional engagement with the component 18 to be driven into the ground.

Thereupon the jacks are placed under pressure for the purpose of being caused to contract. Thus causes the wedging elements 15 to rotate slightly about the pivots 20 so as automatically to clamp the component 18, as Figure 7 shows, whereupon, continued contraction of the hydraulic jacks 22 and 23 thrusts the component 18 downwards by the clamping elements 15, and drives the com ponent 18 into the ground to the extent of the working stroke of the jacks. On the idling stroke of the jacks 22 and 23, the clamping elements 15 are freed from the component again and run back into the initial position, lifting the frame 12, whereupon a new working cycle can begin.

In the case of the example of Figures 9 and 10 the configuration corresponds to that previously described with reference to Figures 1 to 8, with the exception that, instead of the wedge-shaped clamping elements 15, horizontally acting pressure devices 25 are mounted on the piston rods 21a of the hydraulic presses 22a, a packing piece 19a being again provided on one side. In this case, the manner of action is the same in principle as in the case of the previously described example of Figures 10 to 17, in that the lateral pressure devices 25 first of all clamp each side of the component 18 to be driven into the ground, and then the pressure devices 25 are lowered with the component 18 by causing the hydraulic presses 22a to contract.

In the case of the example shown in Figures 11 and 12, two fluted rollers 27 capable of being rotatably driven are arranged on a frame 26 which is fixed in height with respect to the beams 4, which fluted rollers are brought by means (not shown) believed to be obvious to those skilled in the art into frictional engagement with the component 18 to be driven into the ground, and of being driven after the frictional engagement has been set up, so that the component 18 may be continuously driven into the ground as the rollers roll along the component.

The examples described may naturally be modified in many ways without departing from the basic idea of the invention.

Thus a first frame with its clamping devices could be supplemented by a second relatively movable yoke or frame with further clamping devices, the second frame carrying out its idling stroke during the working stroke of the first frame and vice versa. Such a configuration can for example, be recommended if the component to be driven in is of square crosssection, so that the two sets of clamping devices could then respectively be allowed to engage with lateral surfaces at right-angles to one another of the component to be driven into the ground. In the case of these forms the design of the clamping devices may be further modified in detail. The actuating devices, in the form of the hydraulic jacks described, for pulling down in stepwise fashion the vertically movable frames or the clamping devices arranged thereon may also be replaced by means such as screws, or toothed rods.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A device for driving bulkhead timbers, foundation piles or similar components into the ground, the device comprising a beam structure arranged in the vicinity of the surface of the ground and fixed by means of earth-anchors and thrust mechanism capable of being linked consecutively to each individual component and sinking the relevant

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. impacted in position to be discarded or recovered later, are introduced on each side of a planned wall-axis 1 (see Figure 3). The required holding forces against withdrawal are secured by the depth of insertion which is adapted according to the properties of the ground. The shanks of the anchor 2 extend by such an amount above the surface 3 of the ground that at least two of the anchors 2 disposed on each side of the wall-axis 1 can be adjustably linked by parallel beams 4. A thrust unit 11 is mounted on each pair of beams 4 so as to be adjustable parallel to the planned wall-axis 1. This thrust unit comprises a frame 12 with a unilateral recess 13. In the region of the recess 13 there is a clamping device 14 comprising two wedging elements 15 whereof the wedging surfaces 16 act on the one hand directly on one lateral surface 17 of a component to be driven in, namely a pile 18, and on the other hand on a packing piece 19 whereof the other lateral surface bears against the opposite surface 17 of the pile 18. Each wedging element 15 is pivotably mounted at 20 on the frame 12, and a piston rod 21 of a hydraulic jack 22 engages in articulated fashion on an extension of each wedging element 15. A further hydraulic jack 23 of smaller bore is arranged on the frame 12 on both sides of the planned wallaxis 1, in each case in alignment with each hydraulic jack 22, as Figures 5 and 6 show. The lower ends of the jacks 22 and 23 on each side of the planned wall-axis 1 are fixed to one another by a common baseplate 24, fastening rods extending downwards in each case from the plate 24 between the associated beams 4, being locked to the beams by retainer plates and can be displaced along the beams 4 after having been released subsequently to the driving in of a pile 18. The device shown in Figures 1 to 8 acts in the following manner; The thrust unit 11 is first of all moved along the beams 4 into a position opposite to the particular component 18 to be driven in, the jacks 22 and 23 being extended in such a manner that the wedging elements 15 are not in tight frictional engagement with the component 18 to be driven into the ground. Thereupon the jacks are placed under pressure for the purpose of being caused to contract. Thus causes the wedging elements 15 to rotate slightly about the pivots 20 so as automatically to clamp the component 18, as Figure 7 shows, whereupon, continued contraction of the hydraulic jacks 22 and 23 thrusts the component 18 downwards by the clamping elements 15, and drives the com ponent 18 into the ground to the extent of the working stroke of the jacks. On the idling stroke of the jacks 22 and 23, the clamping elements 15 are freed from the component again and run back into the initial position, lifting the frame 12, whereupon a new working cycle can begin. In the case of the example of Figures 9 and 10 the configuration corresponds to that previously described with reference to Figures 1 to 8, with the exception that, instead of the wedge-shaped clamping elements 15, horizontally acting pressure devices 25 are mounted on the piston rods 21a of the hydraulic presses 22a, a packing piece 19a being again provided on one side. In this case, the manner of action is the same in principle as in the case of the previously described example of Figures 10 to 17, in that the lateral pressure devices 25 first of all clamp each side of the component 18 to be driven into the ground, and then the pressure devices 25 are lowered with the component 18 by causing the hydraulic presses 22a to contract. In the case of the example shown in Figures 11 and 12, two fluted rollers 27 capable of being rotatably driven are arranged on a frame 26 which is fixed in height with respect to the beams 4, which fluted rollers are brought by means (not shown) believed to be obvious to those skilled in the art into frictional engagement with the component 18 to be driven into the ground, and of being driven after the frictional engagement has been set up, so that the component 18 may be continuously driven into the ground as the rollers roll along the component. The examples described may naturally be modified in many ways without departing from the basic idea of the invention. Thus a first frame with its clamping devices could be supplemented by a second relatively movable yoke or frame with further clamping devices, the second frame carrying out its idling stroke during the working stroke of the first frame and vice versa. Such a configuration can for example, be recommended if the component to be driven in is of square crosssection, so that the two sets of clamping devices could then respectively be allowed to engage with lateral surfaces at right-angles to one another of the component to be driven into the ground. In the case of these forms the design of the clamping devices may be further modified in detail. The actuating devices, in the form of the hydraulic jacks described, for pulling down in stepwise fashion the vertically movable frames or the clamping devices arranged thereon may also be replaced by means such as screws, or toothed rods. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A device for driving bulkhead timbers, foundation piles or similar components into the ground, the device comprising a beam structure arranged in the vicinity of the surface of the ground and fixed by means of earth-anchors and thrust mechanism capable of being linked consecutively to each individual component and sinking the relevant

component by acting on the component and reacting on the beam structure, the thrust mechanism comprising a frame on which is arranged a clamping device which engages two opposite lateral surfaces of the component to be driven into the ground and which clamping device can be lowered after becoming clamped to the component thereby driving the component into the ground.

2. A device according to Claim 1, in which actuating means are provided for lowering the frame for the purpose of effecting each working stroke of the clamping device, the actuating means acting between the clamping device, and the beam structure.

3. A device according to Claim 2, in which the first frame with the first climbing device is supplemented by a second vertically movable frame with a second clamping device, the second frame carrying out its idling stroke during the working stroke of the first frame and vice versa.

4. A device according to Claim 2, or Claim 3, in which the clamping device or each clamping device comprises an automatic wedging chuck provided between the frame and the component to be driven into the ground.

5. A device according to Claim 4, in which the chuck comprises two wedging elements whereof wedging surfaces engage opposite lateral surfaces of the component to be driven into the ground, the wedging elements being pivotally mounted on the frame, and actuating devices respectively engage the wedging element for turning them with respect to the frame, so as to clamp said wedging elements to the component and enabling the thrust mechanism to pull said component in the direction of the beam structure.

6. A device according to Claim 5, in which the thrust mechanism includes a packing element provided to be fitted between one of the wedging elements and the component.

7. A device according to Claim 1, in which the clamping device comprises horizontally acting pressure devices.

8. A device according to Claim 1, in which the frame is arranged to be at a constant height with respect to the beam stauc- ture and the clamping device comprises clamping pieces constituted by continuously driven rotary members engaging the component to be driven into the ground so as to roll along the component while driving it into the ground.

9. A (I d vice substantially as hereinbefore describe with reference to Figures 1 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 11 and 12 of the accompanying drawings.