Pile-driving system and apparatus

Claim 2

In a system for driving piles by a succession of blows struck from above by a hammer element, a driving head assembly adapted to transfer the blows to the upper end of the pile comprising an anvil element adapted to engage the upper end of a pile in blowtransmitting relation thereto, an elongated hollow closed case secured at one end to the anvil element to form an extension thereof, an outlet serving to vent liquid from within said case while generally retaining air pressure within the case, means serving to supply air pressure to the interior of the case, a massive hammer element movable between advanced and retracted positions within the case to strike said anvil at said advanced position, flexible cable means connected to one end of said hammer element, and means for actuating said cable means to move said hammer element between said positionS.

Claim 3

In a system for driving piles by a succession of blows applied to the upper end of a pile, a guide channel adapted to receive a pile longitudinally inserted therein, a driving head assembly in the channel for transferring hammer blows to the upper end of the pile, said head assembly including an anvil element in the channel disposed in blow-transferring relation with the pile to travel along said channel and follow penetration of the pile, and an elongated hollow closed case in the channel and secured at one end of the anvil element and movable therewith in the channel, means for supplying air

Claim 4

In a system for driving piles by a succession of blows applied to the upper end of a pile, a guide channel adapted to receive a pile longitudinally inserted therein, a driving head assembly in the channel for transferring hammer blows to the upper end of the pile, said head assembly including an anvil element in the channel disposed in blow-transferring relation with the pile to travel along said channel and follow penetration of the pile, and an elongated hollow closed case in the channel and secured at one end of the anvil element and movable therewith in the channel, means for supplying air

Claim 5

In a system for anchoring a structure supported by hollow legs therebeneath, a hollow tubular leg of said structure disposed beneath the surface of a body of water and engaging the floor beneath the body of water, a pile inserted longitudinally into said leg to be driven into the floor beneath said body of water, an anvil in said leg for transferring blows to said pile, a movable hammer element in said leg for striking blows upon said anvil, a closed case containing said hammer element and movable with said anvil to follow the pile during driving of the pile, and means for maintaining said case free of liquid during driving of the pile, means forming a work station located on or above said body of water and supported by said leg, actuator means carried by said work station and including a mechanical coupling to said hammer element extending from said work station for moving said hammer element to strike said blows.

Claim 6

In a system for anchoring a structure supported by hollow legs therebeneath, a hollow tubular leg of said structure disposed beneath the surface of a body of water and engaging the floor beneath the body of water, a pile inserted longitudinally into said leg to be driven into the floor beneath said body of water, an anvil in said leg for transferring blows to said pile, a movable hammer element in said leg for striking blows upon said anvil, a closed case containing said hammer element and movable with said anvil to follow the pile during driving of the pile, and means for maintaining said case free of liquid during driving of the pile, means forming a work station located on or above said body of water and supported by said leg, actuator means carried by said work station and including a mechanical coupling to said hammer element extending from said work station for moving said hammer element to strike said blows.