Hammer having composite piston sleeve

A sleeve for a piston of a hydraulic hammer, the sleeve comprising:

• a generally cylindrical body having a top end and a bottom end;
• and
• a central bore passing axially from the top end of the generally cylindrical body to the bottom end,
• wherein the generally cylindrical body is a composite structure including:
• a plastic guide layer forming an inner annular surface of the central bore;
• a rubber energizer layer located radially outward of the plastic guide layer and being bonded to the plastic guide layer;
• and
• a plastic honeycomb support layer bonded to the rubber energizer layer, forming an outer surface of the generally cylindrical body, and at least partially defining a plurality of longitudinal passages that extend radially through the rubber energizer layer and the plastic guide layer at ends thereof,
• wherein the plastic guide layer, the rubber energizer layer, and the plastic honeycomb support layer are fabricated as a single integral component via a 3-D printing process.

A hydraulic hammer, comprising:

• a frame;
• a bushing disposed within a first end of the frame;
• a work tool reciprocatingly disposed within the bushing;
• a head configured to close off a second end of the frame;
• a sleeve mounted within the frame and having:
• a generally cylindrical body having a top end and a bottom end;
• and
• a central bore passing axially from the top end of the generally cylindrical body to the bottom end,
• wherein the generally cylindrical body is a composite structure including:
• a guide layer forming an inner annular surface of the central bore;
• an energizer layer located radially outward of the guide layer and being bonded to the guide layer;
• the energizer layer surrounds and compresses the guide layer inward;
• and
• a support layer bonded to the energizer layer, forming an outer surface of the generally cylindrical body, and at least partially defining a plurality of longitudinal passages that extend radially through the energizer layer and the guide layer at ends thereof;
• a valve chamber formed within the top end of the sleeve, wherein:
• the guide and energizer layers terminate at an inner axial end of the valve chamber;
• the support layer extends past the inner axial end of the valve chamber and forms an annular wall of the valve chamber;
• the guide layer is stiffer than the energizer layer;
• the support layer is stiffer than the guide layer;
• the guide layer and the support layer are fabricated from a plastic material;
• and
• the energizer layer is fabricated from a rubber material;
• wherein the support layer includes:
• a generally solid inner surface bonded to an outer surface of the energizer layer;
• a generally solid outer surface;
• and
• a porous intermediate material having a honeycomb pattern and being located between the generally solid inner and outer surfaces;
• a piston disposed within the guide layer of the generally cylindrical body and movable to repetitively extend from the bottom end of the central bore and engage the work tool;
• and
• a valve slidingly disposed within the sleeve and movable to regulate fluid flow through the plurality of longitudinal passages.