Abstract: A method of and apparatus for driving piles by the impact force delivered by a hammer disposed in a housing from the bottom end of which there extends downwardly a pile sleeve in which a pile anvil is held captive, in which shock absorbing means separate from the hammer are interposed between the bottom end of the housing and the pile anvil for absorbing rebounce forces reaching the top of the pile of lower magnitude to that of the impact force.A pile driving apparatus constructed according to another aspect of the invention comprises a hammer and resilient means in the path of travel of the hammer for transmitting the impact force of the hammer to a pile, and stop means for cutting out the resilient effect of the resilient means on the impact force by delivering a non-resilient blow to the pile.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a retropulsive force on a body upon which forces act which try to displace said body. More in particular the invention deals with holding upright an enlongated body such as a pile when in unstable equilibrium or by returning a floating body to its position of origin. The unstable pile is held upright by a weight guided in the pile and supported from a cable guided on the pile at a distance above the weight. The floating body is held in position by a weight guided on a stable pile and supported by cables which are connected with the body and run through guides at the upper end of the pile.

Abstract: Apparatus for under water pile driving comprises a pile hammer and a drive unit connected by high pressure hoses to the hammer. The hammer is guided for relative vertical movement within an auxiliary guide frame on top of which the drive unit is permanently attached, said frame being suspended from a hoisting device.

Abstract: In an apparatus for driving a pile or similar object by the stroke of a hammer, the impact of a hammer stroke is transmitted to the pile or similar object through resilient means comprising a precompressed gas in at least two closed chambers, which may intercommunicate, arranged in series.

Abstract: An elongated hollow tube 2 is secured to the top of a pile driver 1, and the assembled unit is lowered to the head of an anchoring pile 12on the sea bottom via spaced guide rings 13 on a submerged tower 10. The flexible hose string 5 for conveying hydraulic, electric, pneumatic, etc. power and control to the pile driver is accommodated in a loop fashion within the tube 2 via a weighted and floating pulley(s) 7, and feeds out during the lowering of the unit through guide rings 13 spaced on the tower over a pulley 4 mounted on a detachable surface ring 3. The various hoses and cables in the string 5 are maintained in a parallel relation by periodic clamping means 14, and smooth surface reel winding is implemented by periodic spacers 26 secured to the outboard tension cables 15, 16 in the string.

Abstract: An anchoring arrangement including a concrete block 3 provided with countersunk end openings 4, 5 through which piles 6, 7 having limiting abutments 8, 9 are driven into the sea bottom. The block(s) may be supported on a base frame 1. If a floating load tethered by cables 10 raises the block it will successively engage each abutment to thereby evenly distribute the lifting forces.

Abstract: A submersible pile driving support and guide apparatus includes a tripod-like frame 8 having vertically adjustable foot pads 16, 17, a lower guide ring 21 horizontally positionable by pivotally mounted hydraulic cylinders 19, upper guiding and clamping rods 23 fully retractable into cylinders 22, and a floodable ballast tank 18. The pile 7 may be positioned vertically or at an angle by suitably adjusting the foot pads, the lower guide ring and the rods. Once it is driven down to the top of the apparatus the rods 23 are retracted into their cylinders, and the driving head 26 thereafter reciprocates within the vertical posts 9 of the frame to complete the driving.

Abstract: One or more guide elements support a pile at the region where the chance of bending or collapse of the pile is most likely and during the process of pile driving, the guide element is moved along with the pile to eliminate the need for puncheons or the like.

Abstract: A submersible pile driving apparatus includes a drop hammer 7 reciprocably mounted in a guideframe on vertical posts 8. Either the drop hammer or the guideframe is guided on cables 4 secured to a crossbar 5 attached to the pile 6, and the guideframe is suspended from the surface ship by a rigid column of tube sections 10 or the like to which the guideframe has been rigidly connected. The apparatus is provided with a guide sleeve 12 or 13 having a funnel-shaped mouth to center the pile during descent. The overall arrangement maintains even very long piles in a vertical position during driving, and prevents tilting or tipping at the pile head - drop hammer interface.

Abstract: Underwater pile driving is implemented by a pile-driving apparatus 14 releasably coupled to a guide sleeve 5 secured to the top of a pile 10. The assembly may be performed on the surface vessel 1 through an opening 4 in a laterally extending platform 2 with the aid of a crane 13, or underwater. The components are lowered on guide cables 8, 9, and after the driving operation is completed, the coupled apparatus 14 and sleeve 5 are raised together. The striking plate 22 for the pile-driving hammer is carried by the apparatus 14.

Abstract: A pile driving apparatus to be lowered onto the head of a previously submerged pile positioned in a caisson is guided in its descent on cables. The cables are secured to a crossbar attached near the head of the pile. The crossbar must be attached sufficiently close to the head of the pile so that the funnel shaped mouth of the pile driving apparatus is guided onto the head of the pile even if the surface ship has drifted laterally to pull the cables away from the vertical, or if the pile itself is positioned in the caisson at an angle to the vertical.The crossbar is attached to the pile by retractable pins extending through longitudinal slots in the pile, or by extendable pressure pads that engage the circumference of the pile. Means are provided for automatically retracting the pins or pads whenever the crossbar bears against the pile driving apparatus.

Abstract: A submergible pile driving apparatus is suspended from a string of rigid tubes 12 to minimize twisting during operation, and the tubes also carry conduits 18, 19 for transmitting hydraulic, pneumatic and electrical power to the apparatus. The upper connections to the conduits are via flexible hoses 25, 26 through a coupling piece 20 inserted in the string below its point of suspension at eye 13, and the lengths of the hoses are adapted to the length of the pile 7 to be driven, whereby continuous operation is possible. That is, locking beams 16 may be engaged with a tube flange to take up the weight of the suspended string and apparatus while a further tube is added to the upper end of the string, without interrupting the driving operation.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system for subaqueous pile driving in which the pile and the hammer are completely submerged. The pile is suspended by at least one cable in such a manner that two cable sections are run in an upward direction from the top of the pile in a parallel manner toward a device located above sea level. The pile is lowered on the cables to the ocean floor, and the pile driving hammer positioned on top of it simultaneously with the pile hammer guided on cable sections. A traverse bore is provided in the pile for passage of the cable, and a temporary support base is provided having slidable frictional contact with the pile for enlarging the base of the pile on the ocean floor.