The Origin Of Marine Pile Drivers

By Michael King


Piles are driven into the ground so that they can offer structures such as houses support using a piece of mechanical equipment called a pile driver. The crew that works with pile-driving rigs may also be referred to using this term. The use of these devices may be in water or on land. When they are use in aquatic settings, they go by the name marine pile drivers.

The invention of this device has been claimed by many sources. However, as early as 1475, there was already a drawing of the device in existence. Several people have received the credit for inventing the device including Leonardo da Vinci, Count Giovan Battista Gazzola, James Valoue, and James Nasmyth.

Credit has been given to the individuals named above, but other evidence reveals that the construction of Crannogs at Oakbank and the Scottish Loch Tay was done using a similar device. The Lock Tay and Crannogs are estimated to be over 5000 years old. In the US, Otis Tufts has been given the credit for inventing the steam version of the same device. The mix-up in historical evidence has made it had to state where or who invented the machine first.

Today, the number of pile drivers in existence are many. Traditionally, weights in this system were lifted using animals and human labor. Pulleys facilitated the process of lifting the weights. Today, advancements in technology have allowed for the development of more effective methods of lifting and guiding weights. Some major types of piling machine in existence today are diesel hammer, hydraulic press-in, vibratory pile driver/extractor, vertical travel lead systems, and hydraulic hammer.

A diesel hammer refers to a big two-stroke diesel engine. It comprises of a piston, which also forms the weight/pile and a cylinder which connects to the weight. The process starts by the use of auxiliary means to lift the weight, which is then dropped through quick-release. The weight is driven back up by energy derived from the ignited diesel fuel. The process of raising and dropping the weight occurs in form of a repeating cycle.

The short form for the term vertical travel lead is VTL. The vertical travel lead method was developed in the 70s. The inventor is Bermingham who went ahead to patent the invention after developing the machine. Its suitability is high in regions with flat terrains with no obstructions. The fixed lead system and swinging lead system had limitations that VTL was invented to counter.

The hydraulic hammer is a piling equipment with a short history. It finds use in driving piles made of timber, steel pipe, and precast concrete. The level of noise and pollution is very low, making it environmentally friendly. Noise is often generated from impact among components and between hammers and piles.

Hydraulic press-in is also a modern device which uses hydraulic rams to install piles. This method has higher preference in areas where vibration is not supposed to occur. All forms of piling devices can be rented from renting companies in most countries. Governments also maintain a collection of their own devices.




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