Pile-driver and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022349144-A1
Application number	US-202017621096-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 26, 2020
Priority date	Jun 28, 2019
Publication date	Nov 3, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A pile-driver assembly for driving a pile into the ground, preferably off- shore, and a method of driving a pile into the ground using the pile-driver assembly is dis- closed. The assembly includes a casing defining a chamber, the chamber being configured to house a fluid, the chamber comprising a channel extending at least partially therethrough. The assembly further includes a positioning element configured to position the casing at or on the pile, wherein at least a portion of the positioning element is positioned between the chamber and the pile, wherein the positioning element comprises a guide element, configured to extend at least partially through the channel of the chamber. The assembly further includes actuating means, wherein actuation of the actuating means displaces the chamber relative to the positioning element, such that the chamber moves away from the pile, and wherein the actuating means is configured to release the chamber for displacement towards the pile such that a force is exerted by the chamber on the positioning member, to controllably drive the pile into the ground.

First claim

1 . A pile-driver assembly for driving a pile into the ground, preferably offshore, the assembly including:
a casing defining a chamber, the chamber being configured to house a fluid, the chamber comprising a channel extending at least partially therethrough; a positioning element configured to position the casing at or on the pile, wherein at least a portion of the positioning element is positioned between the chamber and the pile, wherein the positioning element comprises a guide element, configured to extend at least partially through the channel of the chamber; and actuating means,
wherein actuation of the actuating means displaces the chamber relative to the positioning element, such that the chamber moves away from the pile, and
wherein the actuating means is configured to release the chamber for displacement towards the pile such that a force is exerted by the chamber on the positioning member, to controllably drive the pile into the ground.

2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuating means comprises at least one actuator.

3 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the assembly further comprises buffering means for controllably buffering the force exerted by the chamber on the pile when the pile is driven into the ground.

4 . The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the buffering means is located intermediate the chamber and the positioning element.

5 . The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the buffering means comprises at least one buffering element.

6 . The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the buffering means comprises a central moving element, having an extended position and a retracted position.

7 . The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the buffering means is configured to buffer the downward force exerted by the chamber on the positioning member as the central moving element moves from the extended position to the retracted position.

8 . The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the buffering means comprises a buffering chamber, configured to house a buffering fluid, wherein the volume of the buffering chamber decreases as the central moving element moves from the extended position to the retracted position.

9 . The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the buffering means comprises regulating means configured to regulate the internal buffering characteristics of the buffering means.

10 . The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the regulating means is configured to control the amount of buffering fluid within the buffering chamber.

11 . The assembly of claim, wherein the actuating means is located intermediate the chamber and the at least a portion of the positioning element.

12 . The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the actuating means is located at an end of the chamber that is distal from the buffering means.

13 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the actuating means is coupled to an end of the guide element.

14 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the actuating means includes a clamp, configured to releasably clamp the chamber.

15 . The assembly of claim, wherein the at least a portion of the positioning element is a plate element configured to overlay an upper surface of the pile.

16 . The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the positioning element further comprises a sleeve element releasably connected to an upper portion of the pile.

17 . The assembly of claim, wherein the guide element is configured to extend further through the channel as the chamber moves towards the pile.

18 . The assembly of claim, wherein the chamber is filled with fluid via a conduit provided in the wall of the casing having a valve for controlling the fluid flow.

19 . A method of driving a pile into ground, preferably offshore, comprising the following steps:
providing a pile, to be driven into the ground; providing a pile driver assembly according to any preceding claim in a coaxial arrangement at or in the pile; actuating the actuating means such that the chamber is moved away from the pile; and further actuating the actuating means to release the chamber such that the chamber displaces towards the pile and exerts a force on the positioning member, to controllably drive the pile into the ground.

20 . The method of driving a pile into ground according to claim 19 , the method further comprising controllably buffering the force exerted by the chamber on the pile when the pile is controllably driven into the ground.

21 . The method of driving a pile into ground according to claim 19 , further comprising the steps of actuating and further actuating the actuating means until the pile is driven, into a pre-set position, into the ground.

22 . The method of driving a pile into ground according to claim 21 , further comprising the step of substantially filling the chamber with a fluid.

23 . The method of driving a pile into ground according to claim 22 , wherein the fluid is water from the offshore location.

Assignees

• Ihc Holland Ie Bv

Inventors

• Winkes Jasper Stefan

Classifications

• E02D2250/0092

  using hydraulical means · CPC title

• E02D13/005 Primary

  Sound absorbing accessories in piling · CPC title

• E02D7/14

  Components for drivers {inasmuch as not specially for a specific driver construction} · CPC title

• E02D5/285

  tubular, e.g. prefabricated from sheet pile elements (sheet pile boxes E02D27/30; concrete piles with metal casings E02D5/30) · CPC title

• E02D7/06 Primary

  Power-driven drivers {(tampers E02D3/061)} · CPC title