Hydraulic-forced resonance-free vibratory sheet piling driving and extraction machine

Abstract

An apparatus and method for continuously preloading during installation and removal of steel sheet piles, steel pilings, and casing piles, comprising a telescoping, articulated boom having a free end for creating the downward driving force, a weighted base to provide support and stability for the boom, a connector at the free end of said boom to engage the piling, a modified resonance-free vibratory hammer, and a means for simultaneously vibrating the piling while applying to the piling the continuous downward or upward force.

1 . A method of driving a sheet piling that allows continuous force for preloading or extraction of the piling during installation, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a sheet piling;   providing a telescoping boom that creates a controlled downward or upward vertical force, the boom comprising:
 a telescopic portion, including a hydraulic double-acting cylinder coupled to the base for raising the boom from a horizontal to a vertical orientation and an internal hydraulic cylinder for extending and retracting a telescopic segment from a receptacle segment, 
 a middle portion, including a first hydraulic double-acting cylinder coupled to the telescopic portion, the first cylinder extendable so as to raise the middle portion, and a second hydraulic double acting cylinder to provide control over the positioning of the vibratory hammer, and 
 a free hinged end; 
   providing a weighted base carrier that supports the boom for counterbalancing a downward or upward, hydraulically-harnessed force from the base carrier through the boom to the sheet piling;   providing an articulated connector at the free end for connecting the boom to the sheet piling through a modified resonance-free vibratory hammer;   coupling the resonance-free vibratory hammer to the sheet piling to be installed or removed;   applying a continuous downward or upward force from the boom on the sheet piling; and   simultaneously vibrating the sheet piling to drive the sheet piling into soil under the sheet piling, or forcefully extracting the sheet piling from the ground.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the boom is articulated and the articulation is controlled during elongation and contraction of the boom by an operator and an assistant on the ground who positions the piling in such a way as to maintain the piling always plumb in three-dimensional planes. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the connector to the vibratory hammer comprises a swivel to provide rotational movement in a horizontal plane and a special universal joint that connects to the free hinged end of the boom to provide movement in a vertical plane to the vibratory hammer. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vibratory hammer can be connected to steel piling and casing piling in addition to sheet piling. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a power pack is located on the base carrier to supply power to the base carrier and an independent power pack is located on the base carrier to supply power to the vibratory hammer. 
   
   
       6 . A machine comprising:
 a telescoping boom for creating a controlled downward or upward vertical force, the boom comprising:
 a telescopic portion, including a hydraulic double-acting cylinder for raising the boom from a horizontal to a vertical orientation and an internal hydraulic cylinder for extending and retracting a telescopic segment from a receptacle segment, 
 a middle portion, including a hydraulic double-acting cylinder hydraulically coupled to the telescopic portion, the cylinder extendable so as to raise the middle portion, and 
 a free hinged end, including a hydraulic double-acting cylinder; 
   a weighted base carrier coupled to the boom; and   an articulated connector at the free hinged end for coupling a vibratory hammer.