Vibratory pile driving apparatus

Abstract

Pile driving apparatus comprises first and second sets of eccentric members mounted in a housing for opposing rotation. A phase shifting arrangement connects the sets of eccentric members for controlling coordinated rotation thereof, and comprises a limiting device between the first and second sets of eccentric members for shifting between a first condition wherein the eccentric members are constrained to rotate out of phase to negate generation of vibration and a second condition wherein the eccentric members are constrained to rotate in phase to generate vibration. Two motors are connected with the limiting device for alternatively driving rotation thereof. A control arrangement selectively drives the limiting device predominantly by the first motor for shifting the limiting device into the first condition thereof for preventing vibration or predominantly by the second motor for shifting the limiting device into the second condition for generating vibration in the housing.

1 . Apparatus for driving an object into the ground and for removing an object from the ground by imparting to the object longitudinal vibration generated via rotation of a plurality of eccentric members, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a housing,   (b) a first set of eccentric members mounted in the housing for synchronized rotation in opposing directions relative to one another,   (c) a second set of eccentric members mounted in the housing for synchronized rotation in opposing directions relative to one another,   (d) the first and second sets of eccentric members being disposed relative to one another to generate vibrational force in the housing in a common longitudinal direction, and   (e) a phase shifting arrangement connecting the first and second sets of eccentric members for controlling coordinated rotation thereof, the phase shifting arrangement comprising:
 (i) a limiting device arranged between the first and second sets of eccentric members, 
 (ii) the limiting device being shiftable between a first condition wherein the first and second sets of eccentric members are constrained to rotate out of phase with one another to negate generation of vibration in the housing and a second condition wherein the first and second sets of eccentric members are constrained to rotate in phase with one another to generate vibration in the housing, 
 (iii) a first motor connected with the limiting device for driving rotation thereof, 
 (iv) a second motor connected with the limiting device for driving rotation thereof, and 
 (v) a control arrangement for selectively driving the shift-limiting device predominantly by the first motor for shifting the limiting device into the first condition thereof for maintaining the first and second sets of eccentric members in the first non-vibrating condition and for selectively driving the limiting device predominantly by the second motor for shifting the limiting device into the second condition for generating vibration in the housing. 
   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus for driving an object into the ground and for removing an object from the ground according to  claim 1 , wherein the first set of eccentric members comprises a first pair of eccentric members. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus for driving an object into the ground and for removing an object from the ground according to  claim 1 , wherein the second set of eccentric members comprises a second pair of eccentric members. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus for driving an object into the ground and for removing an object from the ground according to  claim 1 , wherein the limiting device comprising first and second drive components which are shiftable relative to one another between the first and second conditions. 
     
     
         5 . Apparatus for driving an object into the ground and for removing an object from the ground according to  claim 4 , wherein the first motor is a hydraulic motor connected with the first drive component of the limiting device for driving rotation thereof. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus for driving an object into the ground and for removing an object from the ground according to  claim 5 , wherein the second motor is a hydraulic motor connected with the second drive component of the limiting device for driving rotation thereof. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus for driving an object into the ground and for removing an object from the ground according to  claim 6 , wherein the phase shifting arrangement further comprises a first hydraulic circuit connecting the first and second motors in hydraulic series for delivering a first source of pressurized hydraulic driving fluid to the first and second motors in sequence. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus for driving an object into the ground and for removing an object from the ground according to  claim 7 , wherein the control arrangement comprises a second hydraulic circuit including a second source of pressurized hydraulic driving fluid. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus for driving an object into the ground and for removing an object from the ground according to  claim 8 , wherein the second hydraulic circuit is connected to the first hydraulic circuit and wherein the control arrangement further comprises a control device for selectively adding supplementary hydraulic fluid to and withdrawing hydraulic fluid from the first hydraulic circuit to selectively shift the limiting device between the first and second conditions thereof. 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus for driving an object into the ground and for removing an object from the ground according to  claim 9 , wherein the control device comprises a solenoid valve movable between a position wherein the second source of pressurized hydraulic driving fluid delivers the hydraulic fluid to the first hydraulic circuit and a position for receiving hydraulic fluid from the first hydraulic circuit. 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus for driving an object into the ground and for removing an object from the ground according to  claim 4 , wherein the first drive component of the limiting device comprises a first pinion connected with the first set of eccentric members for driving rotation thereof and the second drive component of the limiting device comprises a second pinion connected with the second set of eccentric members for driving rotation thereof, the first and second pinions being mounted for relative rotation about a common axis and having respective stop surfaces arranged for abutment to limit relative rotation between the first and second conditions. 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus for driving an object into the ground and for removing an object from the ground according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second motors are equivalent and each motor is capable of driving the phase shifting arrangement and the eccentric members. 
     
     
         13 . Apparatus for driving an object into the ground and for removing an object from the ground according to  claim 1 , wherein first and second sets of eccentric members are arranged with one set vertically above and in alignment with the other set. 
     
     
         14 . Apparatus for driving an object into the ground and for removing an object from the ground according to  claim 1 , wherein the eccentric members are identical to one another. 
     
     
         15 . Apparatus for driving an object into the ground and for removing an object from the ground by imparting to the object vibration generated via rotation of eccentric members, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a housing,   (b) a first set of eccentric members mounted in the housing for synchronized rotation in opposing directions relative to one another,   (c) a second set of eccentric members mounted in the housing for synchronized rotation in opposing directions relative to one another,   (d) the first and second sets of eccentric members being disposed relative to one another to generate vibrational force in the housing along a common longitudinal direction, and   (e) a phase shifting arrangement connecting the first and second sets of eccentric members for controlling coordinated rotation thereof,   (f) the phase shifting arrangement comprising
 (i) a limiting device arranged between the first and second sets of eccentric members, 
 (ii) the limiting device comprising first and second drive components which are shiftable relative to one another between a first condition wherein the first and second sets of eccentric members are constrained to rotate out of phase with one another to negate generation of vibration in the housing and a second condition wherein the first and second sets of eccentric members are constrained to rotate in phase with one another to generate vibration in the housing, 
 (iii) a first hydraulic motor connected with the first drive component of the limiting device for driving rotation thereof, 
 (iv) a second hydraulic motor connected with the second drive component of the limiting device for driving rotation thereof, 
 (v) a first hydraulic circuit connecting the first and second motors in hydraulic series for delivering a first source of pressurized hydraulic driving fluid to the first and second motors in sequence, 
 (vi) a second hydraulic circuit including a second source of pressurized hydraulic driving fluid, 
 (vii) the second hydraulic circuit being connected to the first hydraulic circuit and including a control device for selectively adding supplementary hydraulic fluid to and withdrawing hydraulic fluid from the first hydraulic circuit to selectively shift the limiting device between the first condition thereof for maintaining the first and second sets of eccentric members in the first non-vibrating condition during start-up acceleration and shut-down deceleration thereof and the second condition for generating vibration in the housing when the first and second sets of eccentric members are rotating at an operating speed. 
   
     
     
         16 . Apparatus for driving an object into the ground and for removing an object from the ground according to  claim 15 , wherein the first drive component of the limiting device comprises a first pinion connected with the first set of eccentric members for driving rotation thereof and the second drive component of the limiting device comprises a second pinion connected with the second set of eccentric members for driving rotation thereof, the first and second pinions being mounted for relative rotation about a common axis and having respective stop surfaces arranged for abutment to limit relative rotation between the first and second conditions. 
     
     
         17 . Apparatus for driving an object into the ground and for removing an object from the ground according to  claim 15 , wherein the control device comprises a solenoid valve movable between a position wherein the second source of pressurized hydraulic driving fluid delivers the hydraulic fluid to the first hydraulic circuit and a position for receiving hydraulic fluid from the first hydraulic circuit. 
     
     
         18 . Apparatus for driving an object into the ground and for removing an object from the ground according to  claim 15 , wherein the first and second hydraulic motors are equivalent and each motor is capable of driving the phase shifting arrangement. 
     
     
         19 . Apparatus for driving an object into the ground and for removing an object from the ground according to  claim 15 , wherein first and second sets of eccentric members are arranged with one set vertically above and in alignment with the other set. 
     
     
         20 . Apparatus for driving an object into the ground and for removing an object from the ground according to  claim 15 , wherein the eccentric members are identical to one another.