Pile-driving device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a combustion-type pile-driving device, comprising a cylinder having a closed upper end and an open lower end, which cylinder is freely movable as a piston with respect to an anvil which seals the lower end of the cylinder, a ram which is freely movable as a piston with respect to the cylinder and the anvil in the cylinder, and an injection device for injecting a fuel into a combustion chamber formed between the ram and the anvil in the cylinder for driving the ram upward by combustion of the injected fuel, wherein a second injection device is provided for injecting fuel into a second combustion chamber formed in the cylinder between the ram and the closed upper end of the cylinder for driving the ram downward and driving the cylinder upward by combustion of the injected fuel. The invention further relates to a method for using such a pile-driving device.

1 . A combustion-type pile-driving device, comprising a cylinder having a closed upper end and an open lower end, which cylinder is freely movable as a piston with respect to an anvil which seals the lower end of the cylinder, a ram which is freely movable as a piston with respect to the cylinder and the anvil in the cylinder, and an injection device for injecting a fuel into a combustion chamber formed between the ram and the anvil in the cylinder for driving the ram upward by combustion of the injected fuel, and a second injection device is provided for injecting fuel into a second combustion chamber formed in the cylinder between the ram and the closed upper end of the cylinder for driving the ram downward and driving the cylinder upward by combustion of the injected fuel. 
   
   
       2 . The pile-driving device according to  claim 1 , wherein a first air pipe extends upward through the cylinder, parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cylinder, which air pipe is in communication with the combustion chamber for supplying and discharging air to and from, respectively, the combustion chamber. 
   
   
       3 . The pile-driving device according to  claim 2 , wherein the first air pipe is in communication with the second combustion chamber for supplying or discharging air to and from, respectively, said combustion chamber. 
   
   
       4 . The pile-driving device according to  claim 2 , wherein the first air pipe is a divided pipe, wherein the upper pipe section of the first air pipe moves along with the cylinder, wherein the lower pipe section of the first air pipe is, at least substantially, static relative to the anvil and wherein a space that may be present between said upper and said lower pipe section is surrounded by a connecting tube. 
   
   
       5 . The pile-driving device according to  claim 4 , wherein the ram forms the connecting tube. 
   
   
       6 . The pile-driving device according to  claim 1  wherein a second air pipe extends in the anvil, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, which second air pipe is in communication with the combustion chamber for supplying or discharging air to or from, respectively, the combustion chamber. 
   
   
       7 . The pile-driving device according to  claim 1  wherein the air inlet and the air outlet of the combustion chamber are separated. 
   
   
       8 . The pile-driving device according to  claim 1  wherein filter means are provided for filtering discharged exhaust gases. 
   
   
       9 . The pile-driving device according to  claim 1  wherein pump means are provided for pumping fresh air into the combustion space. 
   
   
       10 . The pile-driving device according to  claim 1  wherein further filter means are provided for filtering fresh air to be supplied. 
   
   
       11 . A method which comprises:
 i) providing a combustion-type pile-driving device, comprising a cylinder having a closed upper end and an open lower end, which cylinder is freely movable as a piston with respect to an anvil which seals the lower end of the cylinder, a ram which is freely movable as a piston with respect to the cylinder and the anvil in the cylinder, and an injection device for injecting a fuel into a combustion chamber formed between the ram and the anvil in the cylinder for driving the ram upward by combustion of the injected fuel, and a second injection device provided for injecting fuel into a second combustion chamber formed in the cylinder between the ram and the closed upper end of the cylinder for driving the ram downward and driving the cylinder upward by combustion of the injected fuel; and then   ii) driving a support into a ground surface by means of the pile-driving device wherein the cylinder is driven upward upon combustion of fuel in the second combustion chamber.   
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the movements of the ram and the cylinder are at least substantially in counterphase. 
   
   
       13 . The pile-driving device according to  claim 3  wherein the first air pipe is a divided pipe, wherein the upper pipe section of the first air pipe moves along with the cylinder, wherein the lower pipe section of the first air pipe is, at least substantially, static relative to the anvil and wherein a space that may be present between said upper and said lower pipe section is surrounded by a connecting tube. 
   
   
       14 . The pile-driving device according to  claim 13 , wherein the ram forms the connecting tube. 
   
   
       15 . The pile-driving device according to  claim 2  wherein a second air pipe extends in the anvil, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, which second air pipe is in communication with the combustion chamber for supplying or discharging air to or from, respectively, the combustion chamber. 
   
   
       16 . The pile-driving device according to  claim 3  wherein a second air pipe extends in the anvil, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, which second air pipe is in communication with the combustion chamber for supplying or discharging air to or from, respectively, the combustion chamber. 
   
   
       17 . The pile-driving device according to  claim 4  wherein a second air pipe extends in the anvil, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, which second air pipe is in communication with the combustion chamber for supplying or discharging air to or from, respectively, the combustion chamber. 
   
   
       18 . The pile-driving device according to  claim 13  wherein a second air pipe extends in the anvil, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, which second air pipe is in communication with the combustion chamber for supplying or discharging air to or from, respectively, the combustion chamber. 
   
   
       19 . The pile-driving device according to  claim 5  wherein a second air pipe extends in the anvil, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, which second air pipe is in communication with the combustion chamber for supplying or discharging air to or from, respectively, the combustion chamber. 
   
   
       20 . The pile-driving device according to  claim 14  wherein a second air pipe extends in the anvil, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, which second air pipe is in communication with the combustion chamber for supplying or discharging air to or from, respectively, the combustion chamber.