Dynamic Horizontal Ram for Deep Pile Driving

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for driving tubular piles into the ground, especially at deep angles and great depths, are inefficient due to limited impact energy and the need for multiple shorter piles connected sequentially, which decreases propulsion effectiveness and increases soil disturbance.

Innovation Solution

A dynamic horizontal ram system that generates repeated impact forces along the longitudinal axis of the pile, combined with a holding and guiding device that maintains the pile's position and angle, allowing for higher impact energies and deeper, single-piece pile installation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If multiple shorter piles are driven sequentially and stacked to achieve great depths, then the required driving depth can be reached, but the propulsion effectiveness decreases and soil disturbance increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepile installation depthVSAvoidpropulsion effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The pile is divided into multiple sections that can be driven separately and then connected. Each section is driven to the required depth individually, and then the sections are joined together using welding or coupling mechanisms. This allows the pile to reach great depths while maintaining the efficiency of driving single sections rather than attempting to drive one extremely long pile at once.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Length of moving object

If multiple shorter piles are driven sequentially and stacked to achieve great depths, then the required driving depth can be reached, but the number of pile connections increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepile installation depthVSAvoidnumber of pile connections
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pile is divided into multiple sections that can be driven separately and then connected. Each section is driven to the required depth individually, and then the sections are joined together using welding or coupling mechanisms. This allows the pile to reach great depths while maintaining the efficiency of driving single sections rather than attempting to drive one extremely long pile at once.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If excavator hydraulics are used to drive the pile, then the pile can be driven into the ground, but the available impact energy is limited and the excavator's hydraulics cannot be used for the excavator itself while the pile driver is operating

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepile driving capabilityVSAvoidimpact energy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The pile driver is integrated with the excavator, combining the functions of excavation and pile driving into a single machine. The pile driver utilizes the excavator's hydraulic system to generate impact forces, allowing the excavator to perform both excavation and pile driving operations without requiring separate equipment. This integration optimizes the use of available hydraulic power while maintaining high impact energy delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables the efficient driving of long piles up to 30 meters in a single operation with significantly higher impact energies, reducing soil disturbance and eliminating the need for multiple pile connections, while maintaining precise control over pile orientation.

Implementation Method 1

A dynamic horizontal ram system that generates repeated impact forces along the longitudinal axis of the pile

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpact force: Impact Force

Data Source

PatentEP4047136A1Device and method for driving piles into soil
Publication Date: 2022.08.24 ANDREAS PETZOLD EK ROHRLEITUNGSBAU
  • EP4047136A1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4047136A1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4047136A1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and also to a device usable for driving an elongated driven pile 1 into soil 20 for the production or preparation of a deep foundation, wherein the driven pile 1 has a lower end and an upper end opposite the lower end and a longitudinal axis 6 connecting both ends, wherein the driven pile 1 is positioned with its lower end standing on the soil by means of a holding and guiding device 10 and is held during its driving by means of the holding and guiding device 10.characterized in that the driving of the pile 1 into the ground 20 is carried out by means of a pneumatically or hydraulically driven dynamic horizontal ram 13, wherein the ram 13 repeatedly generates an impact force acting on the pile 1 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 6 downwards, and the guidance of the pile 1 in its axial orientation during its driving is carried out by means of a guide traverse 2 which has a contact surface 3 for positioning and guiding the pile 1. (Fig. 3).