Water hammer driven vibrator having deformable vibrating elements

A method for shaking a structure relative to a member said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a driving system and a deformable hollow element, said driving system comprising:
• i) a conduit having an inlet and an outlet;
• ii) a source of pressurized fluid having an output pressure, connected to said inlet;
• iii) a valve in said conduit;
• iv) a valve actuator associated with said valve for repeatedly opening and closing said valve;
• and
• said hollow element comprising a deformable wall enclosing a fluid-filled cavity and first and second mounting points on said deformable wall, wherein a change in a fluid pressure in said fluid-filled cavity, causes said second mounting point to move relative to said first mounting point;
• (b) connecting said first mounting point to a structure to be vibrated relative to a member and connecting said second mounting point to said member;
• (c) opening said valve and holding said valve open until said fluid flows through said conduit with a velocity sufficient to create a water hammer within said conduit;
• (d) suddenly closing said valve to create a water hammer within said conduit, said water hammer comprising a pressure pulse having a pressure significantly greater than said output pressure;
• (e) allowing said water hammer pressure pulse to propagate into said cavity in said hollow element to increase said fluid pressure inside said cavity;
• (f) allowing said change in said fluid pressure in said cavity to cause said first mounting point to move relative to said second mounting point, thereby moving said structure relative to said member;
• and
• (g) repeating said steps (c), (d), (e) and (f) to cause said structure to shake relative to said member wherein said cavity is connected to said conduit by a branch conduit and said step of allowing said water hammer pressure pulse to propagate into said fluid filled cavity comprises allowing said water hammer pulse to propagate through said branch conduit into said cavity and wherein said step of holding said valve open until said fluid flows through said conduit with a velocity sufficient to create a water hammer within said conduit comprises reducing said fluid pressure in said cavity by allowing said fluid to flow through an aspirator in said conduit, said aspirator connected to said branch conduit.