Side Gripper Structure for Vibration-Isolated Pile Driving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pile grippers face challenges in maintaining sufficient contact pressure on piles during driving due to vibrations, leading to unsatisfactory results or inability to install piles effectively.
Innovation Solution
A side gripper design comprising a spring yoke, exciter cell, and clamping device with pivotable clamping arms connected by hydraulic cylinders, where the exciter cell is decoupled from the spring yoke using rubber springs to protect the machine and enhance force transmission to the pile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If conventional grippers are used to grip and drive piles, then the gripping function is provided, but the contact pressure on the pile is insufficient due to vibrations during driving
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper is divided into three functionally independent units: the spring yoke (frame), the exciter cell (vibration generator), and the tensioning device (clamping mechanism). This segmentation allows each unit to perform its specific function optimally without interference, enabling sufficient contact pressure to be applied to the pile while maintaining gripping reliability despite vibrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The exciter cell acts as an intermediary between the vibration source and the clamping device. It generates vibrations and transmits them to the tensioning device via bearings, while the spring mounting isolates the exciter cell from the spring yoke. This intermediary arrangement ensures that vibrations are effectively transmitted to the pile through the clamping arms while preventing vibration transmission to the work machine.
2Reliability
If vibrations are transmitted to the spring yoke, then the work machine receives vibration forces, but the force transfer to clamping arms becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful vibration forces are extracted from the spring yoke through the spring mounting of the exciter cell. The rubber springs isolate the exciter cell from the spring yoke, preventing vibration transmission to the work machine. Meanwhile, the exciter cell continues to generate and transmit vibrations to the tensioning device, ensuring effective force transfer to the pile.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the system have different vibration isolation characteristics. The exciter cell is spring-mounted to isolate vibrations from the spring yoke, while the tensioning device and clamping arms maintain direct vibration transmission to the pile. This local differentiation of vibration handling ensures optimal performance: protection of the work machine while maintaining gripping effectiveness.
3Device complexity
If the exciter cell is rigidly mounted in the spring yoke, then structural simplicity is maintained, but vibrations cannot be decoupled from the work machine
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting stiffness parameter of the exciter cell is changed from rigid to elastic through spring mounting. This parameter change allows the exciter cell to be decoupled from the spring yoke, preventing vibration transmission to the work machine. The elastic mounting absorbs vibration energy while maintaining the structural integrity and compactness of the overall device.
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
The design ensures reliable and efficient gripping and driving of piles by effectively transmitting force and decoupling vibrations, allowing for flexible operation and protection of the machine.
Implementation Method 1
The exciter cell is spring-mounted within the spring yoke
Implementation Method 2
the exciter cell is supported by spring elements opposite the spring yoke, preventing vibrations from being transmitted to the spring yoke
Implementation Method 3
the vibrations or oscillations of the exciter cell can be decoupled from the spring yoke by rubber springs, which primarily serves to protect the working machine
Implementation Method 4
The tensioning device has two clamping arms, each connected to a single hydraulic cylinder. These hydraulic cylinders allow the clamping arms to pivot relative to one another
Implementation Method 5
The exciter cell generates vibrations and transmits these to the tensioning device via corresponding bearings
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention provides a side gripper with which a pile can be reliably grasped and driven into the ground. This is achieved by the side gripper (20) comprising a spring yoke (23), an exciter cell (24), and at least one clamping device (25) for grasping and driving a pile into the ground. The exciter cell (24) is spring-loaded and arranged within the spring yoke (23), and the clamping device (25) is pivotably mounted in the exciter cell (24) about at least one, preferably two, axes (46, 47). The clamping device (25) has two clamping arms (38, 39), each connected to a single hydraulic cylinder (44, 45).