Modular vibratory pile driver system

Abstract

A modular side grip vibratory pile driver system having a housing, a vibratory gear case and a pair of jaws adapted to grip a variety of pile profiles. The housing is rotatably connected to a construction machine such that the jaws can be moved from a position wherein the jaws are oriented vertically and spaced apart horizontally to a position wherein the jaws are oriented horizontally and spaced apart vertically. A plurality of sets of gripping assemblies having different gripping profiles are interchangeably connected to the jaws.

1 . A modular side grip vibratory pile driver system, comprising:
 a housing, said housing including a mounting base comprising two first jaw halves;   a vibratory gear case mounted to said housing;   an arm assembly forming two second jaw halves pivotally connected to said housing, respective said first and second jaw halves forming a pair of spaced-apart jaws adapted for gripping a pile at two longitudinally spaced apart locations;   an attachment assembly adapted to connect said housing to a construction machine, said housing being rotatably connected to said attachment assembly and being rotatable between a first position wherein the jaws are oriented vertically and spaced apart horizontally and a second position wherein the jaws are oriented horizontally and spaced apart vertically;   a plurality of sets of gripping assemblies having different gripping profiles adapted for gripping a variety of different pile profiles, said sets of gripping assemblies adapted to be interchangeably connected to and forming pile gripping elements of said jaws;   said jaws including a single set of said interchangeably connected gripping assemblies detachably and interchangeably connected thereto;   said jaws being open and forming a gap so that a pile can enter the jaws laterally.   
   
   
       2 . The modular pile driver system of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of said sets of gripping assemblies include a first gripping assembly detachably mounted to said mounting base. 
   
   
       3 . The modular pile driver system of  claim 2 , wherein said first gripping assembly includes a plurality of slots, said slots configured to permit passage of fasteners to secure said first gripping assembly to said mounting base and to permit adjustment of said first gripping assembly relative to said mounting base. 
   
   
       4 . The modular pile driver system of  claim 2 , wherein said at least some of said sets of gripping assemblies include pairs of substitute rotatable arms that are interchangeable with the arms forming the second jaw halves, said substitute arms having gripping profiles matching respective said first gripping assemblies. 
   
   
       5 . The modular pile driver system of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of said sets of gripping assemblies include a second gripping assembly that is detachably mounted to said arm assembly. 
   
   
       6 . The modular pile driver system of  claim 5 , wherein said second gripping assembly includes a plurality of slots configured to permit passage of fasteners to secure said second gripping assembly to said arms and to permit adjustment of said second gripping assembly relative to said arms. 
   
   
       7 . The modular pile driver system of  claim 1 , wherein said sets of gripping assemblies are respectively configured to grip a relatively large pipe, a relatively small pipe, a sheet pile and a pole. 
   
   
       8 . The modular pile driver system of  claim 1 , wherein said second jaw halves are moveable from an open configuration to a closed configuration relative to said first jaw halves wherein when in said closed configuration, said first jaw halves are interlockingly engaged with said second jaw halves. 
   
   
       9 . A modular side grip vibratory pile driver system, comprising:
 a housing including a rigid mounting base, said mounting base including a pair of first jaw halves rigidly connected thereto;   a vibratory gear case mounted to said housing;   a plurality of sets of interchangeable pivotable arm assemblies, each set forming a pair of second jaw halves pivotally connected to said mounting base, said respective first and second jaw halves forming a pair of spaced apart jaws adapted for gripping a pile at two longitudinally spaced-apart locations, said sets of arms being detachably mounted to said mounting base, said sets of arms having different gripping profiles for gripping a variety of different pile profiles in conjunction with said first jaw halves;   a plurality of sets of first gripping assemblies having different gripping profiles for gripping a variety of different pile profiles, each of said sets of gripping assemblies adapted to be detachably connected to said first jaw halves;   an attachment assembly adapted to connect said housing to a construction machine, said housing being rotatably connected to said attachment assembly and being rotatable between a first position wherein the jaws are oriented vertically and spaced apart horizontally and a second position wherein the jaws are oriented horizontally and spaced apart vertically;   said jaws being open and forming a gap so that a pile can enter the jaws laterally.   
   
   
       10 . The modular pile driver system of  claim 9 , wherein said arm assemblies include a plurality of respective second gripping assemblies detachably connected thereto, said second gripping assemblies having respective said different gripping profiles. 
   
   
       11 . The modular pile driver system of  claim 10 , wherein said sets of interchangeable arms and gripping assemblies are respectively configured to grip a relatively large pipe, a relatively small pipe, a sheet pile and a pole. 
   
   
       12 . A method of changing a modular side grip vibratory pile driver from a first configuration to a second configuration, said method comprising:
 providing a modular side grip vibratory pile driver comprising a housing, a vibratory gear case mounted to the housing and a pair of spaced-apart jaws, the housing being rotatably connected to a construction machine and being rotatable between a first position wherein the jaws are oriented vertically and spaced apart horizontally and a second position wherein the jaws are oriented horizontally and spaced apart vertically, the jaws being open and forming a gap so that a pile can enter the jaws laterally, the jaws including a current set of gripping assemblies providing pile gripping surfaces on said jaws;   providing a plurality of sets of gripping assemblies having different gripping profiles adapted for gripping a variety of different pile profiles; and   selecting one of said sets of gripping assemblies that accommodates the profile of a pile to be driven and substituting said selected set for the current set of gripping assemblies to thereby configure the pile driver for driving a pile with a complementary profile.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the sets of gripping assemblies are configured respectively to grip a relatively large pipe, a relatively small pipe, a sheet pile and a pole. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein each of said jaws comprises a stationary jaw half and a removable rotatable jaw half, and wherein the step of substituting comprises:
 replacing current rotatable jaw halves with rotatable jaw halves from the plurality of sets having a gripping profile that accommodates the profile of the pile to be driven, and   replacing a gripping assembly on the stationary jaw with a gripping assembly from the plurality of sets that accommodates the profile of the pile to be driven.