US3815373A

US3815373A - Piling clamp

Info

Publication number: US3815373A
Application number: US00260419A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Giroux
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-06-07
Filing date: 1972-06-07
Publication date: 1974-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 1991-06-11

Abstract

A piling clamp means is disclosed herein which is adapted to be used in combination with a piling pulling apparatus such as a vibrating hammer suspended from the hoist line of a crane. The clamp means comprises a pair of hydraulically operated jaw members which may be moved into gripping engagement with the piling being pulled. The clamp means is suspended from a cable means connected to the vibrating hammer and the crane whip line to enable the clamp means to be moved from a position remote of the piling being pulled to a position adjacent the piling being pulled so that the jaw members may grip the same.

Description

United States Patent [191 Giroux ].June 11, 1974 PILING CLAMP [76] Inventor: Davis W. Giroux, 3 Lakewood.

Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501 22 Filed: June 7,1972

211 App]. No.: 260,419

[52] U.S. Cl 61/535, 173/91, 214/658, 279/4, 294/88 [51] Int. Cl E02d 7/00 [58] Field of Search 173/49, 1, 91; 61/535, 61/63; 294/88, 81 R; 214/658, 215; 269/25;

279/4; 24/263 HW, 249 HA [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,674,144 6/1928 Traves 294/88 X 1,879,993 /1932 Salmon... 61/535 2,789,716 4/1957 Wolf 214/658 3,391,435 7/1968 Lebelle 279/4 X Primary Examinerl-lenry C. Sutherland Assistant Examiner-William F. Pate, Ill Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Zarley, McKee & Thomte [57] ABSTRACT A piling clamp means is disclosed herein which is adapted to be used in combination with a piling pulling apparatus such as a vibrating hammer suspended from the hoist line of a crane. The clamp means comprises a pair of hydraulically operated jaw members which may be moved into gripping engagement with the piling being pulled. The clamp means is suspended from a cable means connected to the vibrating hammer and the crane whip line to enable the clamp means to be moved from a position remote of the pi]- ing being pulled to a position adjacent the piling being pulled so that the jaw members may grip the same.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PILING CLAMP The conventional method of handling sheet piling or the like as it is being removed from the ground by a vibrating hammer is to cut a hole in the sheet piling and attach a whip line from the crane therethrough. The vibrating hammer then vibrates the piling upwardly from the ground and the whip line is then used to lower the piling onto the ground. Such a method is time consuming and damages the sheet piling since the hole is cut in the piling with a cutting torch or the like. The pilings are ordinarily used again and the holes must be covered with a plate or the like welded thereto. A further disadvantage in the conventional method is that the method requires a man to hook the whip line to the sheets and a man to unhook the sheets from the whip line. i

Thus, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a piling clamp.

A further object of this invention is to provide a piling clamp which may be used in combination with a vibro hammer.

A further object of this invention is to provide a piling clamp which is supported by cables and which is A further object of this invention is to provide a piling clamp which may be adapted to handle various piling configurations.

A further object of this invention is to provide a piling clamp which is easily operated.

A further object of this invention is to provide a piling clamp which is economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a piling clamp:

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the piling clamp, the broken lines indicating the movement of one of the jaw members:

FIG. 3 is a sectional view seen along lines 33 of FIG. 2:

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the piling clamp being used in combination with a vibrating hammer:

FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating the piling clamp being used in combination with a vibrating hammer:

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 except that the piling clamp has been lowered into engagement with the piling; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIGS. 5 and 6 except that the piling clamp is shown to be supporting the removed piling.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 generally refers to the piling clamp of this invention while the numeral 12 refers to a conventional vibrating hammer or vibro hammer as it is sometimes called. The numeral 14 refers to a piling of conventional design.

The vibrating hammer 12 is supported on its axis by a hoist line 16 extending from a conventional crane. The hammer 12 has a jaw means 18 which is adapted to clamp onto the piling 14 as illustrated in the drawings. The hammer l2 imposes vibratory motion to the easily lowered into gripping engagement with the pilpiling 14 so as to force the same into the ground during the placement process. The hammer 12 is also used to pull the piling 14 from the ground through its vibratory action.

Clamp 10 includes a tube 20 which is slidably received by the tube 22 in the manner illustrated in the drawings. A jaw 24 extends outwardly from tube 20 and a jaw 26 extends outwardly from tube 22. The

jaws

24 and 26 will have various configurations depending upon the particular type of piling being pulled. Tube 20 has a pair of registering

slots

28 and 30 formed therein as seen in FIG. 3 which receive a pin 32. Pin 32 is secured to the rod 34 of hydraulic cylinder 36 which is positioned in the interior of the

tubes

20 and 22. Tube 22 has a pair of registering

holes

38 and 40 formed therein which receive a pin 42. Pin 42 is secured to the base end of the hydraulic cylinder 36 as illustrated in FIG. 3. A pair of

hydraulic hoses

44 and 46 are connected to the hydraulic cylinder 36 and extend outwardly through suitable slots formed in the

tubes

20 and 22. A pair of ears 48 and a pair of ears 50 are secured to the outer ends of

tubes

22 and 20 respectively and have sheaves or

pulleys

52 and 54 mounted thereon respectively. The

hydraulic hoses

44 and 46 are connected to a suitable hydraulic system remote of the clamp 10.

A cable 56 is'connected at one of its ends to the hammer 12 as illustrated in FIG. 4 and extends through the sheave 52 and thence upwardly through the

sheaves

58 and 60 provided on the hammer. A cable 62 is also secured to the hammer 12 in a spaced apart relationship to the cable 56 and extends through the sheave 54 thence upwardly through the

sheaves

64 and 66 secured to the hammer 12 as illustrated in FIG. 4.

Cables

56 and 62 are secured to a connector or headache ball 68 which is supported by the crane whip line 70.

Cables

56 and 62 may be a single cable if desired with the apex of the single cable secured to the ball 68. A pair of

stop elements

72 and 74 are provided on the

cables

56 and 62 respectively and are adapted to engage the

sheaves

52 and 54 respectively so that the clamp 10 will be moved away from the piling 14 as the whip line is moved upwardly with respect to the hammer 12. Thus, upward movement of the whip line 70 with respect to the hammer 12 causes the clamp 10 to be moved to the position illustrated in FIG. 5. Downward movement of the whip line 70 with respect to the hammer 12 causes the clamp 10 to be moved from the position illustrated in FIG. 5 to a position adjacent the piling 14 as illustrated in FIG. 6. The clamp 10 is automatically moved adjacent the piling 14 as the whip line 70 is lowered through the various cable or line and sheave arrangements previously described.

The normal method of operation is as follows. FIG. 5 illustrates the piling 14 in position and about to be pulled by the hammer 12. The clamp 10 has been moved to its inoperative position so as not to interfere with the attachment of the hammer 12 to the upper end of the piling 14. The hammer 12 is lowered onto the upper end of the piling 14 by the hoist line 16 and the jaw means 18 is then clamped thereon. The hammer 12 is then operated to impose vibratory action into the piling 14 and upward tension is applied thereto by the hoist line 16 to move the piling l4 upwardly from the ground. The whip line 70 is then lowered by the crane operator to cause the clamp 10 to move from the position of FIG. 5 to the position of FIG. 6. The hydraulic cylinder 36 would have been previously activated so as to separate the

jaws

24 and 26 as far as possible. The

jaws

24 and 26 receive the piling 14 therebetween as the clamp is placed adjacent thereto. The hydraulic cylinder 36 is then activated by the hammer operator so as to securely clamp the

jaws

24 and 26 onto the piling 14.

The hammer is operated until the piling is completely removed from the ground. When the piling 14 has been removed from the ground, the jaw means 18 on the hammer 12 is released from the piling 14 and the piling 14 is then solely supported by the clamp 10 as illustrated in FIG. 5. The crane operator would then maneuver the hammer 12 to lower the piling 14 onto the ground in the proper position. With the piling M in the proper position on the ground, the hydraulic cylinder 36 is then activated to cause the separation of the

jaws

24 and 26 so as to release the piling I4 therefrom. The hammer and the clamp are then moved into position so as to remove the next piling.

Thus it can be seen that an extremely simple but efficient clamp has been provided for use with a piling pulling apparatus such as a vibro hammer or vibrating hammer which eliminates the necessity of cutting'holes in the piling 14 as was the case before the instant invention. The clamp of this invention has also eliminated the need of a certain amount of man power and speeds up the entire operation. It is no longer necessary to station a man in a boat to attach the whip line to the piling as was common heretofore when piling was being pulled from cofferdams or the like and the old method was being employed. I

It is recommended that a pilot check valve be provided in the

hydraulic hoses

44 and 46 to prevent the separation of the

jaws

24 and 26 in the event of failure of the hydraulic circuitry. Such a feature prevents accidental dropping of the piling 14. The

slots

28 and 30 are provided to permit the cylinder rod to move slightly without moving the tubes so as to release-a mechanical brake within the device if one is so employed.

Thus it can be seen that the clamp of this invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

I claim:

1. In combination with a piling pulling apparatus suspended from the hoist line of a crane comprising,

a piling clamp means operatively secured to thecrane and being movable from a first position remote from the piling being pulled to a second position adjacent said piling being pulled by the piling pulling apparatus,

said piling clamp means including means for gripping the piling being pulled,

said means for gripping the piling being pulled comprising a pair of hydraulically operated jaw member,

first and second sheave members being operatively connected to said pair of jaw members, a first cable means secured at one end to said piling pulling apparatus and extending through said first sheave member, a second cable means secured at one end to said piling pulling apparatus and extending through said second sheave member, said first and second cables being secured at their other'ends to a third cable means provided on the crane.

2, The combination of claim I wherein said first and second cable means each have means thereon which engage said first and second sheave members respectively to move said clamp means to said first position when said third cable means is raised with respect to said piling pulling apparatus.

.3. In combination with a piling pulling apparatus suspended from the hoist line of a crane comprising.

a piling clamp means operatively secured to the crane and being movable from a first position remote from the piling being pulled to a second position adjacent said piling being pulled by the piling pulling apparatus,

said piling clamp means including means for gripping the piling being pulled,

first and second cable receiving members being operatively connected to said pair of jaw members, a first cable means secured at one end to said pulling apparatus and extending through said first cable receiving member, a second cable means secured at one end to said piling pulling apparatus and extending through said second cable receiving member,

said first and second cables being secured at their other ends to a third cable means provided on the crane.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said first and second cable means each have means thereon which engage said first and second cable receiving members respectively to move said clamp means to said first position when said third cable means is raised with respect 7 to said piling pulling apparatus.

5. In combination with a piling pulling apparatus suspended from the hoist line of a crane, said piling pulling apparatus having a first piling clamp means thereon for gripping the upper end of the piling being pulled, comprising, 4 j g i a second piling clamp means secured to the crane and being movable from a first position remote from the piling being gripped by said first piling clamp means to a second position adjacent said piling being gripped by said first piling clamp means,

said second piling clamp means including hydraulically operated means for gripping the piling being pulled.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said second piling clamp means is positioned below said first piling clamp means when in its said second position.

7. The combination of claim 5 wherein said piling pulling apparatus is a vibrating hammer means.

8. The combination of claim 5 wherein a cable meanssupports said clamp means, said cable means being operatively movably secured to said piling pulling apparatus for guiding said clamp means into its gripping position.

9. In combination with a piling pulling apparatus suspended from the hoist line of a crane, said piling pulling apparatus having a first piling clamp means thereon for gripping the upper end of the piling being pulled, comprising, v

a second piling clamp means secured to the crane and being movable from a first position remote from the piling being gripped by said first pilingclamp means to a second position adjacent said piling being gripped by said first piling clamp means,

suspended from the hoist line of a crane, said pilingpulling apparatus having a first piling clamp means thereon for gripping the upper end of the piling being pulled, comprising,

a second piling clamp means secured to the crane and being movable from a first position remote from the piling being gripped by said first piling clamp means to a second position adjacent said piling being gripped by said first piling clamp means,

said second piling clamp means including hydraulically operated means for gripping the piling being pulled,

said means for gripping the piling being pulled comprises a pair of opposing jaw members, a hydraulic cylinder means connecting said jaw members for moving one of said jaw members towards and away from the other jaw member, said clamp means having guide means operatively interconnecting said jaw members.

Claims

1. In combination with a piling pulling apparatus suspended from the hoist line of a crane comprising, a piling clamp means operatively secured to the crane and being movable from a first position remote from the piling being pulled to a second position adjacent said piling being pulled by the piling pulling apparatus, said piling clamp means including means for gripping the piling being pulled, said means for gripping the piling being pulled comprising a pair of hydraulically operated jaw member, first and second sheave members being operatively connected to said pair of jaw members, a first cable means secured at one end to said piling pulling apparatus and extending through said first sheave member, a second cable means secured at one end to said piling pulling apparatus and extending through said second sheave member, said first and second cables being secured at their other ends to a third cable means provided on the crane.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first and second cable means each have means thereon which engage said first and second sheave members respectively to move said clamp means to said first position when said third cable means is raised with respect to said piling pulling apparatus.

3. In combination with a piling pulling apparatus suspended from the hoist line of a crane comprising, a piling clamp means operatively secured to the crane and being movable from a first position remote from the piling being pulled to a second position adjacent said piling being pulled by the piling pulling apparatus, said piling clamp means including means for gripping the piling being pulled, said means for gripping the piling being pulled comprising a pair of hydraulically operated jaw member, first and second cable receiving members being operatively connected to said pair of jaw members, a first cable means secured at one end to said pulling apparatus and extending through said first cable receiving member, a second cable means secured at one end to said Piling pulling apparatus and extending through said second cable receiving member, said first and second cables being secured at their other ends to a third cable means provided on the crane.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said first and second cable means each have means thereon which engage said first and second cable receiving members respectively to move said clamp means to said first position when said third cable means is raised with respect to said piling pulling apparatus.

5. In combination with a piling pulling apparatus suspended from the hoist line of a crane, said piling pulling apparatus having a first piling clamp means thereon for gripping the upper end of the piling being pulled, comprising, a second piling clamp means secured to the crane and being movable from a first position remote from the piling being gripped by said first piling clamp means to a second position adjacent said piling being gripped by said first piling clamp means, said second piling clamp means including hydraulically operated means for gripping the piling being pulled.

8. The combination of claim 5 wherein a cable means supports said clamp means, said cable means being operatively movably secured to said piling pulling apparatus for guiding said clamp means into its gripping position.

9. In combination with a piling pulling apparatus suspended from the hoist line of a crane, said piling pulling apparatus having a first piling clamp means thereon for gripping the upper end of the piling being pulled, comprising, a second piling clamp means secured to the crane and being movable from a first position remote from the piling being gripped by said first piling clamp means to a second position adjacent said piling being gripped by said first piling clamp means, said second piling clamp means including hydraulically operated means for gripping the piling being pulled, said means for gripping the piling being pulled comprises a first tube slidably received by a second tube, first and second jaw members secured to and extending laterally from said first and second tubes respectively, and a hydraulic cylinder means secured to and extending between said first and second tubes for moving at least one of said jaw members towards and away from the other.

10. In combination with a piling pulling apparatus suspended from the hoist line of a crane, said piling pulling apparatus having a first piling clamp means thereon for gripping the upper end of the piling being pulled, comprising, a second piling clamp means secured to the crane and being movable from a first position remote from the piling being gripped by said first piling clamp means to a second position adjacent said piling being gripped by said first piling clamp means, said second piling clamp means including hydraulically operated means for gripping the piling being pulled, said means for gripping the piling being pulled comprises a pair of opposing jaw members, a hydraulic cylinder means connecting said jaw members for moving one of said jaw members towards and away from the other jaw member, said clamp means having guide means operatively interconnecting said jaw members.