US3467203A - Apparatus for sinking casings in the construction of caissons - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 16, 1969 A. R. JOHNSON 3,467,203

APPARATUS FOR SINKING CASINGS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CAISSONS Filed June 29, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 \v JZ JO 1 3 3 33 1| 4 ,1//Q4// l V/ %f F. 2 E INVENTOR.

M W h M EORNEYS Sept. 16, 969 A. R. JOHNSON 3,457,203

APPARATUS FOR SINKING CASINGS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CAISSONS Filed June 29, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l N VENTUR.

4 Sheets-$heet 5 A. R. JOHNSON CONSTRUCTION OF CAISSONS APPARATUS FOR SINKING CASINGS IN THE Q Q Q m Sept. 16, 1969 Filed June 29, 1967 INVENTOR. A 4F K oy/v.5

VWf'hRA/EYS Sept. 16, 1969 Filed June 29, 1967 A. R. JOHNSON 3,467,203 APPARATUS FOR SINKING CASINGS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CAISSONS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(99 92 I: INVENTOR. 9/// J 44; Joy/V50 94 4434 W, @MATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,467,203 APPARATUS FOR SINKING CASINGS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CAISSONS Alf R. Johnson, 7660 Marmora Ave., Skokie, Ill. 60076 Filed June 29, 1967, Ser. No. 649,992 Int. Cl. E21c /10, 1/06; E02d 5/34 US. Cl. 173-159 28 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A rig for boring and sinking casings in the construction of caissons including an expansible-contractible collar for frictionally gripping a casing for joint movement therewith and guided on a rig frame for vertical and rotational movement only. Horizontally extending hydraulic rams are mounted on the collar for expanding and contracting the same and other horizontal rams arranged to move vertically with the collar on the frame for rotationally oscillating the collar relative to the frame. The collar is interposed between a pair of spaced interconnected horizontal collar plates guided for vertical movement only on spaced vertical slide guides mounted on the frame. Bearings are interposed between the collar and the collar plates for relative rotation therebetween and vertical hydraulic rams interconnect the frame and the collar plates for moving the collar plates and the collar vertically.

Background of the invention This invention relates generally to caisson construction apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for boring and sinking casings.

In the construction of caissons for foundations and the like a hole is formed in the ground and a large metal tube or casing is disposed in the hole. The casing is then gradually filled with concrete and is raised slowly at a rate which corresponds to the rate at which the concrete begins to set.

It is preferable to form the hole in which the casing is disposed by boring the casing itself into the ground and then removing the dirt from within the casing, rather than by auger-drilling the hole and then subsequently dropping the casing into the hole. One important reason for this preference is that an auger-drilled hole must be oversized with respect to the outside diameter of the casing, thus leaving a gap between the casing and the wall of the hole after the casting is in place within the hole. Because of this gap the dirt surrounding the casing may separate from the wall of the hole and fall into the still-wet concrete in greater or lesser amounts depending upon the conditions of the soil. If this occurs the caisson may be defective and substantial losses may be incurred.

A preferable manner of forming the hole is to bore the casing itself into the ground and progressively remove the dirt from within the casing as the casing sinks further into the ground. A lower or leading edge of the casing is provided with cutting teeth and the casing is rotationally oscillated while a downward force is simultaneously applied thereto. The lower edge of the casing always leads the removal of dirt from within the casing until the casing is bored to its final depth.

This preferred method almost completely eliminates the likelihood of defective caissons due to back-fill of dirt into the wet concrete because of the elimination of the gap between the casing and the wall of the hole and hence the elimination of the space through which the dirt can fall into the concrete. Even as the casing is being removed from the hole the thickness of the gap between the periphery of the concrete caisson itself and the wall of the hole is merely the thickness of the wall of the casing.

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Apparatus for forming caissons in this preferred manner is known in the art. Such apparatus is not completely satisfactory, however, in terms of boring speed, reliability, durability, accuracy in forming the hole, ability to satisfactorily accommodate out-of-round casings and maintenance requirements.

Such known apparatus includes a radially expansible and contractible cylindrical collar for receiving and clamping the casing. The collar is not adapted to engage the casing completely around the periphery thereof, however, and instead usually maintains only point contact with the casing. Such point contact may cause crimping of the casing due to the high gripping pressures required to provide the necessary frictional forces between the collar and the casing, and furthermore will not correct the shape of casings which may be out-of-round due to defects in manufacture or through use.

The collar is suspended from a frame in a manner which enables it to move horizontally as well as vertically, thus offering no guidance to the casing. Furthermore the collar is rotationally oscillated by a complicated mechanical linkage which must pivot in two directions as well as extend and retract as the collar is oscillated. The deficiencies noted above in known casing sinking are due primarily to this manner in which the collar is constructed and the manner in which it is mounted on the frame and moved vertically and rotationally relative thereto.

Summary of the invention The casing sinking apparatus of the present invention may be briefly summarized as comprising a frame adapted to be supported in a horizontal casing-boring position, an expansible-contractible casing gripping collar, means mounting the collar on the frame for relative vertical and rotational movement only, means for selectively expanding and contracting the collar and means for selectively vertically and rotationally moving the collar relative to the frame.

The collar comprises a plurality of overlapping interdigitated pivotally interconnected links arranged in a circular pattern for completely surrounding the casing to provide frictional gripping engagement therewith around the entire periphery of the casing. A master spacer link maintains the circular configuration of the collar as the collar is contracted so that the casing is gripped circumferentially continuously therearound and so that any outof-round of the casing is corrected.

The collar mounting means comprises a pair of horizontal collar plates disposed at opposite axial ends of the collar and guided for vertical movement only on a plurality of vertical slide guides connected in fixed assembly to the frame. Bearing means are interposed between the collar and the collar plates for relative rotational movement therebetween.

A plurality of reaction beams maintain the collar plates in spaced parallel relation and are fixedly secured thereto. The collar is oscillated about its axis of rotation by a plurality of hydraulic rams which interconnect the collar and the reaction beams and thus are carried for joint vertical movement with the collar. In order to balance the radial forces acting on the collar the hydraulic rams are divided into two groups disposed on diammetrically opposite sides of the collar.

The bearing means between the collar plates and the collar comprises a plurality of rollers spaced circumferentially about the collar at the opposite ends thereof and a pair of roller retainer rings formed on the collar plates in circumferentially surrounding relation to the rollers for maintaining vertical alignment between the collar and the collar plates. The peripheral wall of each of the rollers is tapered and rides on a complementarily tapered roller ring for balancing the thrust forces acting on the rollers.

Many other features, advantages and additional ob jects of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description which follows and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which preferred structural embodiments incorporating the principles of the present invention are shown by way of illustrative example on y.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a rig for boring a casing into the ground constructed in accordance with 'the principles of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the collar end of the rig taken substantially along lines IIII of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the casing end of the rig taken along lines IIIIII of FIG- URE 2 with certain structural members broken away to better disclose the relative disposition of parts.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the rig taken along lines IVIV of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary end elevational view taken along lines VV of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken along lines VI-VI of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along lines VIIVII of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along lines VIII-VIII of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged sectional view of a hydraulic ram mounting bracket and rod clevis taken along lines IXIX of FIGURE 6.

Description of the preferred embodiment In constructing deep caissons for the foundations of large structures such as high rise buildings and the like the rig used in boring the casing into the ground must be substantial in size because of the great weight and diameter of the casings the force required to bore the casing and the great depth to which the casings must be sunk.

Referring to the drawings reference numeral 10 in FIGURE 1 indicates generally a casing boring rig constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The rig 10 may be more particularly characterized as comprising a frame 11 which includes three frame sections indicated respectively at reference numerals 12, 13 and 14. The frame 11 is adapted to be supported in a horizontal boring position on ground level indicated at 16.

Also shown in FIGURE 1 is an exemplary casing 17 mounted in the rig 10 and partially bored into the ground indicated at 18. The exemplary casing 17 is the first of a series of casings to be bored into the ground and this first casing is clamped, welded or otherwise fixedly connected in end-to-end relation with the next succeeding casing. This same procedure is followed as each of the casings is bored into the ground until the final casing as dictated by the length of the respective casings and the desired depth of the caisson is bored into the ground. Since it is assumed the casing 17 is the first of a series of casings, a lower edge 19 thereof is provided with cutting teeth extending continuously circumferentially therearound. The cutting teeth may be formed integrally with the casing 17 or may be formed on a separate cutting tool which may be detachably clamped to the lower end of the casing.

The casing 17 is lowered vertically into section 12 by any suitable means such as, for example, a crane or similar equipment mounted on the ground adjacent the rig 10 or supported on an equipment and crew deck 20 of the frame 11. A pair of horizontal table plates indicated respectively at reference numerals 21 and 22 are mounted in vertical spaced relation on section 12 and are centrally apertured as at 23 to receive the casing 17 as it is lowered down into the frame 11.

A plurality of circumferentially spaced casing guide wheels 24 are mounted on the table plates 21 and 22 around apertures 23, 23 for guiding the casing 17 through the apertures as it is being lowered into the rig. An expansible-contractible casing collar 26 performs the function of tightly frictionally gripping the casing 17 after it has been lowered in place and oscillating the casing about its longitudinal axis while urging it into the ground with great force.

The casing collar 26 is expanded and contracted by means of a horizontally extending reverse-acting hydraulic cylinder or ram assembly indicated generally at reference numeral 27. The oscillating motion is provided by two groups of horizontally extending hydraulic rams indicated at 28a and 28b which are also of the reverse acting type and which are disposed respectively on diametrically opposite sides of the collar 26. Vertical movement is provided the collar 26 through the utilization of another set of hydraulic rams including rams 29a-29d which extend vertically in radially spaced relation to the axis of the collar 26 and in 90 angularly spaced relation to each other.

Operation of the hydraulic rams 27, 28a-28b and 29a-29d is controlled from a hydraulic control console 30 mounted on an operators platform 31 in section 13 of the frame 11. The location of the platform 31 affords the operator of the rig a vantage point from which to fully observe the operation of the collar 26 and the vertical headway being made by the casing 17. The pressurized fluid which services the hydraulic rams is supplied from a series of hydraulic pumps 32 driven by suitable prime movers such as a series of internal combustion engines 33. A speed reducer 34 may be interposed between the engines 33 and the hydraulic pumps 32. The engine-pump assemblies may be mounted on an engine balcony 36 located in section 14 of the frame 11 behind the operators platform 31.

Each of the frame sections 12-14 comprises a pair of heavy horizontal beams 37 and 38 and vertical beams 39 and 40 interconnecting the horizontal beams. A pair of cross-beams 41 and 42 serve as rigidifying and stabi lization braces for each of the sections 12-14. In operation the frame 11 may be supported directly on the ground in a horizontal boring position or leveling and supporting leg members may be interposed between the frame 11 and the ground as desired or as suggested by the grade level of the ground.

The collar 26 of the present invention is specially adapted to grip the casing 17 around the entire periphery thereof and to impart an evenly distributed radial force on the casing to prevent crimping of the casing to increase the maximum allowable radial and axial forces which can be applied to the casing and to reduce the radial forces necessary to provide optimum frictional, forces between the collar 26 and the casing for joint movement thereof. In addition the collar 26 maintains a cylindrical gripping surface as it grips the casing the effect of which is to assist in bringing into round a casing which is not entirely cylindrical in cross section due to minor defects in manufacture or deformation through use.

Referring to FIGURES 5 and 6, the collar 26 may be more particularly characterized as having a generally cylindrical configuration and as comprising a plurality of circumferential segments or sections which are indicated for example at reference numerals 43 and which are pivotally interconnected to one another on axes which extend parallel to the axis of the collar 26. Each of the segments 43 comprises a plurality of vertically or axially spaced links as at 44, the links of each of the segments 43 being circumferentially aligned with respect to one another. The links 44 of circumferentially adjacent segments 43 extend in overlapping interdigitated relation to one another such that the links of one segment circumferentially overlap the links of the adjacent segments and alternate with the links of the adjacent segment in a vertical direction.

The overlapping portions of the links 44 of adjacent segments are vertically bored as at 46 for receiving a pivot pin 47 to enable the adjacent link segments 43 to pivot relative to one another as the collar 26 is radially expanded and contracted.

Two of the link segments identified at reference numerals 48 and 49 may be designated as circumferentially spaced end link segments interconnected by a master or spacer link segment 50. The link segments other than the end segments 48 and 49 and the master segment 50 may be conveniently referred to as intermediate link segments. In each of the links which comprise the master link segment 50 is formed a circumferentially elongated slot 51 arranged concentrically with respect to the collar 26 for receiving a pair of pivot pins 52 and 53 which extend through circular bores 46 formed in the end links 48 and 49 and having substantially the same diameter as the pivot pins 52 and 53 for a telescopic relation therebetween. It is noted that an inner surface 54 of each of the links 44 is arcuately shaped and the surfaces 54 generally form in the aggregate a cylindrical internal wall of the collar 26. Within limits of variations in the diameter of the collar 26 the internal surfaces defined by the inner walls 54 of the links 44 maintain a cylindrical configuration for circumferentially-continuous frictional gripping action on the outer wall of the casing 17.

Extending radially outwardly from each of the end segments 48 and 49 is a bracket 56 having an end wall 57. The end walls 57 are in vertically aligned relation with one another and a closure plate 58 is connected in fixed assembly by suitable means such as a weld connection or the like to the end walls 57 of each of the end segments 48 and 49. A series of bifurcated rod clevises 59 and mounting eye brackets 59a are fixedly secured to the closure plates 58, 58 and comprise vertically registered bores 60 for receiving a swivel pin or rod 61.

Referring to FIGURE 7, the ram assembly 27 includes a plurality of pressurized fluid operated hydraulic rams indicated respectively at 27a27c each of which comprises a cylinder 62 and a piston and piston rod assembly 63 slidably carried in the cylinder 62. The cylinders 62 are of the reverse-acting type, that is, they are adapted for driving their respective pistons in opposite directions. The distal ends of the cylinder 62 and the piston rods 63 are provided with suitable cooperating mounting eye brackets 64 and clevises 64a for pivotally mounting the rams on the swivel pins 61.

After the casing collar 26 has been diametrically contracted to frictionally grip the casing 17 a vertically downward force is applied thereto by means of the hydraulic rams 29a29b. The bottom end of each of the rams 29a29b is provided with a rod clevis 66 for pivotal connection through a swivel pin 67 with a mounting eye bracket 68 secured in fixed assembly to the lower table plate 22. A cooperating rod eye 69 is provided at the upper end of each of the rams 29a-29d for connection through a pin 70 to a mounting bracket 71 connected in fixed assembly to an upper horizon or collar plate 72.

The upper collar plate 72 extends horizontally immediately above the upper end of the collar 26 and a companion member which may be designated as a lower horizon or collar plate identified at reference numeral 33 is situated adjacent the lower end of the collar 26. Suitable apertures 74 are formed in the lower collar plate 73 to enable the rams 29a29d to extend vertically upwardly therethrough.

The upper and lower collar plates 72 and 73 are connected together in fixed assembly by means of a plurality of reaction beams indicated respectively at reference numerals 76a-76a'. As shown in FIGURE 6 the reaction beams may be of the I-beam type and in the illustrated embodiment are welded at the opposite ends thereof to the upper and lower collar plates 72 and 73 although it will be appreciated that other connecting means may 'be suitably employed.

Thus it is apparent that the collar 26 is confined between the upper and lower collar plates 72 and 73 and is moved vertically by the force exerted by the rams 29a- 29d as transmitted to the collar 26 through the collar plates 72 and 73.

The collar plates 72 and 73 are guided for vertical movement only on a plurality of vertically extending slide guides 77a-77d spaced angularly about and spaced radially outwardly of the eriphery of the collar 26. The slide guides 77a77a' are connected in fixed assembly at the opposite ends thereof to the upper and lower plates 21 and 22. In the illustrated embodiment the slide guides are cylindrically shaped and extend upwardly through apertures 78 formed in the upper and lower collar plates 72 and 73. A tubular sleeve bearing 79 surrounds each of the slide guides between the upper and lower collar plates 72 and 73 for free vertical movement of the collar plates 72 and 73 on the slide guides 77a-77d.

The ram assemblies 28a and 28b which oscillate the collar 26 rotationally about its longitudinal axis comprise respectively two groups of vertically aligned rams indicated at reference numerals 80 and 81. One end of each of the rams is mounted on a pivot pin 82 which extends through vertically registered bores 83 formed in mounting brackets 84 which are connected to the collar 26 through a mounting plate 86. The opposite end of each of the rams 81 is mounted on a pin 87 which extends through mounting brackets 88 connected in fixed assembly to a corresponding tangentially aligned one of the reaction beams 76a-76d.

The rams 80 and 81 of each of the oscillating ram assemblies 28a and 28b are of the dual-acting or reverseacting type whereby the piston members thereof can be positively driven in opposite directions. Further the assemblies 28a and 28b apply tangential forces to the collar 26 acting along spaced parallel froce lines and in opposite directions and as the piston rods of the rams reciprocate there is continually maintained a radially balanced condition upon the collar 26 and the casing 17 during oscillation of the collar.

The torque applied to the collar 26 is transmitted from the ram assemblies 28a and 28b to the reaction beams 76a-76d, thence to the upper and lower collar plates 72 and 73 and then to the slide guides 77a-77d. It will be appreciated that the ram assemblies 28a and 28d maintain their horizontal disposition at all times, thus simplifying the connections thereof to the collar 26 and to the opposite force reaction members which, in the embodiment, comprise the reaction beams 76a76d. The only movement of the rams 80 and 81 relative to the collar 26 and the reaction beams 76a-76d other than the reciprocal movement of the piston rods thereof is a pivotal movement in a horizontal plane. The rams 80 and 81 move vertically jointly with the collar 26, the reaction beams 76a76d and the upper and lower collar plates 72 and 73 as the collar 26 is moved vertically. In addition, rams 29a 29d are always maintained in vertical alignment, thus greatly simplifying the connections thereof to collar plate 72 and table plate 22.

In order to enable the collar 26 to oscillate freely relative to the upper and lower collar plates 72 and 73 the present invention contemplates the provision of bearing means between the collar plates and the adjacent ends of the collar 26.

In the illustrated embodiment a pair of circumferentially spaced rollers 89, 89 are mounted on each of the collar links '44 disposed at the axially opposite ends of the collar 26. Referring to FIGURE 8, each of the rollers 89 is journalled on a threaded stud 90 received in a complementarily threaded bore 91 which extends radially with respect to the axis of rotation of the collar 26. A sleeve bearing 92 is interposed between the roller 89 and the stud 90.

As the collar 26 is oscillated a radial thrust is imposed on the rollers 89 due to the circular path in which they travel. In order to balance this radial thrust peripheral walls 93 of the rollers 89 are tapered to converge in the direction of the axis of rotation of the collar 26 and ride on a pair of wedge-shaped or complementarily tapered roller rings 94, 94 connected in fixed assembly to the upper and lower collar plates 72 and 73 and arranged concentrically with respect to the circular apertures 23 formed in the upper and lower table plates 21 and 22. The respective tapers of the rollers 89 and the rings 94 impart an oppositely directed thrust to the rollers 89' to balance the thrust resulting from the rotation of the collar 26, thereby obviating complicated and expensive thrust bearings for journalling the rollers 89.

Circumferentially surrounding the roller rings 94, 94

are a pair of roller retainer rings 96, 96 which guide the direction of movement of the rollers 89 as the collar 26 is oscillated. The retainer rings 96 are also concentrically disposed with respect to the apertures 23 formed in the upper and lower table plates 21 and 22 as well as registered apertures 97 formed in the upper and lower collar plates 72 and 73 as a result of which the collar 26, the upper and lower collar plates 72 and 73 and the upper and lower table plates 21 and 22 are maintained in vertical alignment.

In the expanded state configuration of the collar 26 the rollers 89 at either the upper or the lower end of the collar are not in engagement with their corresponding roller ring 94, depending upon whether the collar 26 is at rest or is being moved upwardly or downwardly since the overall distance between the peripheral walls 93 of the rollers 89 at the opposite ends of the collar 26 is less than the distance between the radially outer portions of the roller rings 94. After the collar 26 is diametrically contracted, however, all of the rollers 89 are in engagement with their corresponding roller ring 94.

Referring to FIGURE 9, the swivel pins 61 are notched slightly at 61a and crowned as at 61b between the notches 61a at those portions of the pins 61 which extend through the piston rods 63 and the rods themselves are complementarily curved as at 63a in surrounding relation to the crowns of the pins. Further, resilient washers as at 65 are disposed between the facing surfaces of the clevis 59 and the rod 63.

This arrangement is provided to accommodate any axial movement of the collar 26 in its expanded state as the bores 83 of the mounting brackets 84 which comprise the ram assemblies 28a and 28b.

In order to thoroughly describe the present invention a brief description of the operation thereof follows. First of all the operator of the rig actuates the appropriate control in the control console 30 to pressurize the ram assembly 27 to open the end links 48 and 49 and to expand the diameter of the collar 26. Then a casing 17 is lowered through the aperture 23 in the upper table plate 21 and through the collar 26 until the lower edge thereof abuts either the ground or the upper edge of another casing previously bored into the ground.

If the casing is the first to be bored in a particular hole the leading edge thereof has the teeth 19 formed thereon. On the other hand if other casings have been previously bored then the leading or lower edge of the present casing is merely securely coupled to the upper end of the next preceding casing.

The operator then actuates the appropriate control to pressurize the ram assembly 27 in an opposite direction to contract the collar 26 and firmly grip the outer wall of the casing. A substantial gripping action is required in order to provide the necessary frictional force between the collar 26 and the wall of the casing for joint oscillation thereof, and the collar 26 of this invention by avoiding only point contact with the casing, affords high gripping and friction characteristics without crimping the casing.

When the collar 26 is contracted around the casing 17 it is disposed in a raised position relative to the slide guides 77a-77d. After the collar 26 has gripped the casing 17 the operator act-uates the oscillating ram assemblies 28a and 28b as well as the vertical ram assemblies 29a-29d to simultaneously oscillate the casing 17 about its longitudinal axis and to urge the casing down into the ground.

After the casing has been bored into the ground to a predetermined depth, the ram assembly 27 is reversely actuated to expand the collar 26. The vertical rams 29a and 29d are also reversely actuated to move the collar 26 again and to its raised position. The collar 26 is then contracted again to frictionally grip the casing and the vertical rams 29a-29b are again pressurized to impose a vertical downward force on the casing 17. Depending upon the length of the casing it may be necessary to release and shift the collar 26 on the casing several times to bore the casing substantially its entire length into the ground.

As noted, the collar 26 of this invention not only avoids crimping or distortion of the casing which might occur under high pressure resulting from only point-contact therewith, but also corrects any out-of-round of the casing. The application of the vertical and oscillating forces to the collar 26 through the rams 80 and 81 and 29a-29d are such that the component parts are substantially free of bending moments and complicated connecting linkages and relative movements. Even under the heavy strain imposed on the rig the present invention is capable of serving a long useful life with minimum maintenance. The performance characteristics of this invention greatly exceed any other rig of which I am aware.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such imodifications as reasonably come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a ground boring and easing rig including a radially expansible-contractible collar for surrounding and securely gripping a casing and means for rotationally oscillating the casing collar and simultaneously urging thes ame vertically downwardly to bore the easing into the ground, the improvement wherein said casing collar comprises,

a plurality of link sections arranged in a generally circular pattern in circumferentially successive relation to one another,

the radially innermost surfaces of said link sections being arcuately shaped to form together a cylindrical wall for circumferentially frictionally gripping the casing for joint oscillation of said collar and the gripped casing,

means interconnecting circumferentially adjacent ones of said link sections for relative pivotal movement and for relative circumferential movement of at least two adjacent ones of said link sections, and

means for moving said relatively circumferentially movable ones of said link sections for varying the inner diameter of said collar.

2. The boring and casing rig as defined in claim 1 wherein said adjacent link sections circumferentially overlap one another and wherein said interconnecting means comprises means forming axially aligned apertures in said link sections and a plurality of pivot pins situated respectively in said aligned apertures.

3. The boring and easing rig as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said link sections comprises a plurality of axially spaced circumferentially aligned links,

all of said link sections having portions circumferentially overlapping adjacent link sections in interdigitated relation.

4. The boring and easing rig defined in claim 1 wherein the radially innermost surfaces of said link portions form together a circumferentially continuous cylindrical wall for completely surrounding the gripped casing.

'5. The boring and casing rig as defined in claim 4 wherein said apertures are, formed in said overlapping portions of said links.

6. In a ground boring and casing rig including a radially expansible-contractible collar for surrounding and securely gripping a casing and means for rotationally oscillating the casing collar and simultaneously urging the same vertically downwardly to bore the casing into the ground, the improvement wherein said casing collar is generally cylindrically shaped and comprises a pair of circumferentially spaced end segments and a plurality of intermediate segments between said end segments,

means interconnecting said intermediate segments to the segments circumferentially adjacent thereto for pivotal movement on axes parallel to the axis of said collar,

a master spacer segment extending between said end segments, and

means for connecting said master segment to said end segments comprising cooperating pivot pin and pinreceiving circumferentially elongated slot means whereby the master segment serves to maintain the cylindrical configuration of the collar as the spacing between the end segments is varied to vary the diameter of the collar,

each of said collar segments comprising a plurality of axially spaced circumferentially aligned links,

the links of adjacent segments having portions circumferentially overlapping one another in interdigitated relation.

7. A ground boring and casing rig comprising a'rig frame adapted to be supported in a horizontal boring position,

an expansible and contractible casing collar having a vertical axis of rotation and adapted to releasably grip a casing for joint movement with,

means mounting said collar on said frame for relative vertical and rotational movement only,

means for selectively expanding and contracting said collar, and

means for selectively moving said collar vertically and rotationally relative to said frame,

said collar mounting means comprising,

a plurality of elongated slide guides,

means for mounting said slide guides on said frame for maintaining the same on spaced vertical axes, and

a pair of horizontal vertically spaced collar plates slidably carried for vertical movement on said slide guides and sandwiching said casing collar therebetween for joint vertical movement there with.

8. The ground boring and casing rig as defined in claim 7 and including,

bearing means interposed between said casing collar and said collar plates for relative rotation therebetween on the axis of rotation of said casing collar.

9. The ground boring and casing rig as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for rotating said collar comprises,

a hydraulic ram having a cylinder end and a piston end operatively interconnecting said casing collar and said collar plates for joint vertical movement at both ends thereof with said casing collar and said collar plates.

10. The ground boring and casing rig as defined in claim 9 and including,

a plurality of vertical reaction beams interconnecting said collar plates in horizontally spaced fixed assembly with one another and wherein said means for rotating said casing collar comprises,

a plurality of horizontally extending hydraulic rams each having a cylinder end and a piston end and connected at the ends thereof to one of said reaction beams and to said casing collar.

11. The ground boring and casing rig as defined in claim 10 wherein at least one of said hydraulic rams is disposed on one side of said casing collar and another of said rams is disposed on a diametrically opposite side to balance the radical forces acting on said casing collar.

12. The ground boring and casing rig as defined in claim 7 wherein said collar mounting means further comprises,

vertical hydraulic ram means operatively interconnecting said frame and at least the upper one of said pair of horizontal collar plates for applying a purely vertical force on said upper collar plate in all vertical positions thereof.

13. The ground boring and casing rig as defined in claim 12 wherein said vertical hydraulic ram means comprises a plurality of vertical hydraulic rams spaced circumferentially around the periphery of said casing collar to provide a symmetrical balance of the vertical thrust load applied to the collar plates and to the collar.

14. The ground boring and casing rig as defined in claim 7 and including,

bearing means and bearing track means on said casing collar and on said collar plates for journalling said collar for rotation relative to said collar plates and for maintaining vertical alignment of said collar and said collar plates.

15. The ground boring and casing rig as defined in claim 14 wherein said bearing means comprises a plurality of roller means spaced circumferentially around said casing collar and wherein said bearing track means comprises circumferentially continuous retainer ring means for guiding said roller means in a circular path of travel around the axis of said casing collar.

16. The ground boring and casing rig as defined in claim 15 wherein said roller means each has an axis of rotation projecting radially from the axis of said casing collar.

17. The ground boring and casing rig is defined in claim 15 wherein said roller means are mounted on said casing collar at the vertically spaced ends thereof and said retainer ring means comprises a pair of retainer rings formed respectively on said collar plates in circumferentially surrounding relation to said roller means.

18. The ground boring and casing rig as defined in claim 17 wherein said roller means comprises a plurality of rollers each having a tapered peripheral Wall converging in the direction of the axis of said casing collar and including a pair of wedge-shaped roller rings tapered complementarily to the taper of said peripheral walls and mounted respectively on said collar plates,

the tapered peripheral walls of said rollers being guided by said retainer rings for rolling movement on said roller rings to balance thrust forces acting on said rollers upon rotation of said collar.

19. Apparatus for boring and sinking a casing in the construction of a caisson comprising,

a frame adapted to be supported in a horizontal position,

at least three spaced vertical slide guides fixedly mounted on said frame,

a radially expansible-contractible casing collar having a vertical axis of rotation,

a pair of horizontal collar plates above and below the upper and lower ends of said collar having bores for receiving said slide guides for guiding said collar plates in vertical movement,

a plurality of vertical reaction beams connecting said collar plates in fixed assembly,

a pair of bearing assemblies interposed between the upper and lower ends of said collar and said collar plates for relative rotation and vertical alignment of said collar and said collar plates,

a plurality of vertical hydraulic rams interconnecting one of said collar plates and said frame for raising and lowering said collar, and

a plurality of horizontal hydraulic rams interconnecting said collar and said reaction beams for rotationally oscillating said collar.

20. The apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said collar comprises a plurality of overlapping interdigitated pivotally interconnected links extending circumferentially around the collar to grip the casing around the periphery thereof.

21. The apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said bearing means comprises,

a plurality of rollers mounted on said collar at the upper and lower ends thereof, and

a pair of roller retainer rings mounted respectively on said collar plates in circumferen-tially surrounding relation to said rollers.

22. The apparatus as defined in claim 21 wherein said rollers have horizontal axes of rotation projecting radially from the axis of rotation of said collar and wherein each of said rollers further comprises a tapered peripheral wall converging in the direction of the axis of rotation of said collar, and including complementarily tapered roller rings mounted respectively on said collar plates for receiving the peripheral walls of said rollers in rolling relation.

23. The apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein said collar comprises,

a plurality of circularly arranged overlapping interdigitated pivotally interconnected links including a pair of circumferentially spaced end links,

intermediate links between said end links and master links interconnecting said end links for providing pivotal and relatively circumferential movement therebetween for varying the diameter of said collar.

24. The apparatus as defined in claim 23 and including means for moving said end links relatively circumferentially comprising a hydraulic ram interconnecting said end links and extending transversely to the axis of rotation of said collar.

25. The apparatus as defined in claim 24 and including,

a pair of brackets operatively connected to said end links, respectively,

said hydraulic ram and said brackets together comprising a rod clevis having a pair of spaced flanges and a mounting eye bracket interposed between the flanges of said clevis, resilient washers between said mounting eye bracket and said flanges,

means forming aligned bores in said mounting eye bracket, said flanges and said resilient washers, and

a swivel pin extending through said bores.

26. The apparatus as defined in claim 25 and including a convex crown-shaped peripheral wall formed on that portion of said swivel pin extending through said mounting eye, and

12 1 means forming a complementarily concave wall on said mounting eye surrounding said crown-shaped portion of said swivel pin. 27. Apparatus for boring and sinking a casing in the construction of a caisson comprising a frame adapted to be supported in a horizontal position,

at least three spaced vertical slide guides fixedly mounted on said frame,

a collar assembly comprising a radially expansiblecontractible casing collar having a vertical axis of rotation,

a pair of horizontal collar plates above and below the upper and lower ends of said collar,

means for interconnecting said collar plates in fixed assembly and for mounting said collar plates for vertical movement on said slide guides,

a pair of bearing assemblies interposed respectively between the upper and lower ends of said collar and said collar plates for relative rotation and vertical alignment thereof,

a plurality of vertical hydraulic rams interconnecting one of said collar plates and said frame for raising and lowering said collar, and

a plurality of horizontal hydraulic rams interconnecting said collar and said collar plate interconnectingand-mounting means for rotationally oscillating said collar.

28. A ground boring and casing rig comprising a frame,

casing collar means for releasably gripping a casing,

means mounting said collar means on said frame for vertical and rotational oscillating movement relative to said frame,

means mounting on said frame and connected to and effective to oscillate said collar means, and

hydraulic ram means mounted on said frame and connected to, and etfective to raise and lower said collar means,

said hydraulic ram including a hydraulic cylinderpiston-piston rod arrangement so disposed with respect to said frame and said collar means that the full motive area of the piston is utilized when the collar means is being raised and a piston motive area reduced by the cross-sectional area of the piston rod is utilized when the collar means is being lowered, whereby the power of said hydraulic ram means is greater in raising than in lowering said collar means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,576,203 11/1951 Wilson s1 57.1

2,835,969 5/1958 Wheeler 81-66 XR 3,174,562 3/1965 Stow 122 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,442,552 5/1966 France.

1,215,624 5/1966 Germany.

ERNEST R. PURSER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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