Pile driving hammer, apparatus and method

A method of producing a reciprocating impact load against a pile member by a fluid actuated pile member driving hammer, comprising the steps of:

• a. supporting the pile member in position to be driven;
• b. supporting the hammer relative to the pile member in a position aligned with the pile member for delivering to the pile member a reciprocating impact load;
• c. directing a pressurized working fluid in a first direction in the hammer to cause a load delivering member to move in said first direction;
• d. directing a portion of the pressurized working fluid further in the first direction to decelerate the movement of the load delivering member in said first direction;
• e. directing another portion of the pressurized working fluid in a second direction in the hammer thereby causing along with step (d) the load delivering member to move in the second direction toward a load transferring member which is in engagement with the pile member;
• f. compressing a fluid between the load delivering member and the load transferring member to preload the load transferring member to cause it to move in the second direction at a slower rate than the load delivering member;
• g. impacting the load delivering member against said load transferring member;
• and
• h. repeating steps (c)- (g) as desired.

A method of producing a reciprocating impact load against a pile member to be driven offshore by a fluid actuated pile member driving hammer, comprising the steps of:

• a. inserting the pile member within a conveyor means which extends below the surface of the water and supporting the pile member in position to be driven;
• b. supporting the hammer relative to the pile member in a position aligned with the pile member for delivering to the pile member a reciprocating impact load, the hammer being displaceable within the conveyor means during the pile member driving operation;
• c. displacing the water from the area immediately surrounding the plane of engagement of the pile member and a load transferring member of the hammer;
• d. directing a pressurized working fluid in a first direction in the hammer to cause a load delivering member to move in said first direction;
• e. direction a portion of the pressurized working fluid further in the first direction to decelerate the movement of the load delivering member in said first direction;
• f. directing another portion of the pressurized working fluid in a second direction in the hammer thereby causing along with step (e) the load delivering member to move in the second direction toward a load transferring member which is in engagement with the pile member;
• g. compressing a fluid between the load delivering member and the load transferring member to preload the load transferring member to cause it to move in the second direction at a slower rate than the load delivering member;
• h. impacting the load delivering member against said load transferring member;
• and
• i. repeating steps (d)- (h) as desired.

An apparatus for driving a pile from an offshore installation, the installation including a structure having at least one conveyor means which extends below the surface of the water, the conveyor means defining a passage therethrough for the reception of a pile member to be driven, the apparatus comprising:

• a. a pile driving hammer including an elongated housing member, means mounted to said housing for guiding said hammer within the passage of said conveyor means and retaining the alignment of said hammer with respect to said conveyor means, closure plate means, means mounting said closure plate means to one end of said housing, piston means, elongated ram means, anvil means which engage the pile member to be driven, and means for establishing an air pocket in the area of engagement of the pile member and said anvil means;
• b. a support structure mounted to said hammer for suspending said hammer throughout the span of its operation;
• c. means suspending said support structure throughout the span of operation of said hammer;
• and
• d. conduit means, wherein:
• i. said closure plate means includes means for mounting said piston means thereto so that said piston means extends into said housing;
• ii. said ram means defines an internal space into which is received a portion of said piston means which extends into said housing for defining therewith a loading chamber and a firing chamber which alternately receive from said piston means a pressurized working fluid for loading and then firing said ram means against said anvil means;
• and
• iii. said conduit means provides a path for the working fluid to said piston means, with said conduit means being mounted to said support structure.

An apparatus for driving a pile under water, comprising:

• a. a pile driving hammer including an elongated housing member, anvil means which engage the pile member to be driven, and a pocket formed by the housing member and the anvil means in the area of engagement of the pile member and said anvil means into which a pressurized fluid is fed thereby displacing any water from the vicinity of engagement of the anvil means with the pile member to be driven;
• b. a support structure mounted to said hammer for suspending said hammer throughout the span of its operation;
• and
• c. means suspending said support structure throughout the span of operation of said hammer.

An apparatus for driving a pile under water comprising:

• a. a pile driving hammer including an elongated housing member, closure plate means, means mounting said closure plate means to one end of said housing, piston means, elongated ram means, anvil means which engage the pile member to be driven, and means for establishing an air pocket in the area of engagement of the pile member and said anvil means;
• b. a support structure mounted to said hammer for suspending said hammer throughout the span of its operation;
• c. means suspending said support structure throughout the span of operation of said hammer;
• and
• d. conduit means, wherein:
• i. said closure plate means includes means for mounting said piston means thereto so that said piston means extends into said housing;
• ii. said ram means defines an internal space into which is received a portion of said piston means which extends into said housing for defining therewith a loading chamber and a firing chamber which alternately receive from said piston means a pressurized working fluid for loading and then firing said ram means against said anvil means;
• and
• iii. said conduit means provides a path for the working fluid to said piston means, with said conduit means being mounted to said support structure.