GB2373012A

GB2373012A - Adjustable pile breaker

Info

Publication number: GB2373012A
Application number: GB0105580A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Zabrana
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-03-07
Filing date: 2001-03-07
Publication date: 2002-09-11
Anticipated expiration: 2021-03-07
Also published as: GB2373012B; GB0105580D0

Abstract

A pile breaker is constructed in such a way that it can be used with piles of different shapes and sizes, for example with secant piling. It includes two paired sections which contact the pile and rejoined together with adjustable straps. The breaker is designed to produce rapid short shock pressure and release sequences which produce resonance waves in the pile. This coupled with the use of cutting teeth serve to break the pile.

Description

"MULTI-FUNCTIONAL PILE BREAKER" TECHNICAL FIELD THIS INVENTION RELATES TO A PILE BREAKING MACHINE THAT MAY BE DRIVEN BY EITHER HYDRAULICS OR PRESSURISED AIR THAT ALLOWS THE TOP OF REINFORCED CONCRETE PILES, (USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY), TO BE REMOVED WITHOUT GIVING RISE TO THE HANDLERS SUFFERING ANY EFFECTS FROM VIBRATION AND OTHER RELATED PROBLEMS.

BACKGROUND SINCE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY RULING ON THE EFFECTS OF USING VIBRATORY TOOLS (KNOWN AS WHITE FINGER) IT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT FOR CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES TO EASILY REMOVE THE TOPS FROM ALL TYPES OF REINFORCED CONCRETE PILING. THERE ARE SOME MACHINES AND METHODS THAT CAN REMOVE THE TOPS FROM SPECIFIC PILES THAT ARE INDIVIDUALLY SET AT SOME DISTANCE FROM EACH OTHER. NEVERTHELESS, MANY COMPANIES ARE STILL FORCED TO RETURN TO HAND HELD VIBRATORY MACHINERY SUCH AS HEAVY BREAKERS WHEN DEALING WITH SECANT WALLING AND OTHER SIMILAR TYPES. THE HEALTH RESTRICTIONS ON HOURS OF USE ARE BOTH COSTLY AND TIME CONSUMING WHILE REMAINING NECESSARY.

THIS INVENTION IS DESIGNED TO OPERATE BEST IN MATCHED PAIRS JOINED TOGETHER BY HIGH STRENGTH INTERWOVEN STRAPS THAT ARE THEMSELVES HYDRAULICALLY ADJUSTABLE AND UNDERGO CONSTANT RESETTING WITH THE PRESSURE CHANGES AS THE MACHINE IS OPERATED. THE PILE BREAKER IS DESIGNED TO WORK UNDER A SYSTEM OF EXTREMELY RAPID, SHORT SHOCK PRESSURE AND RELEASE SEQUENCES THAT RESULT IN RESONANCE SHOCK WAVES TRANSMITTED WITHIN THE DESIGNATED SECTION OF THE PILE. THIS, COMBINED WITH THE ACTUAL ACTION OF THE SPECIALLY DESIGNED ELLIPTICAL TEETH, INCREASES THE DESTRUCTIVE EFFECT ON THE CONCRETE WITHOUT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE INTERNAL METAL REINFORCEMENT STRUCTURE OF THE PILES.

THIS INVENTION PROVIDES THE SOLUTION TO ALL TYPES OF PILING AS IT CAN BE MANUFACTURED IN VARIOUS SHAPES AND SIZES. AN ADDED ADVANTAGE IS ITS REMOTE OPERATION, WHICH ENSURES THAT NO PERSONNEL ON SITE SUFFER ANY HARMFUL EFFECTS FROM VIBRATION OR OTHER RELATED PROBLEMS SUCH AS NOISE, DUST INHALATION AND FLYING DEBRIS. AS IT IS HYDRAULICALLY DRIVEN, IT ALSO INCORPORATES A SAFETY STRAP THAT WILL BE THE SUBJECT OF ANOTHER PATENT APPLICATION.

ESSENTIAL TECHNICAL FIGURES THIS INVENTION (PILE BREAKER) COMPRISES OF TWO ALUMINIUM CHASSIS-MAIN CYLINDERS (shown as No. 1 in the figures 1-10) THAT INCORPORATE SIX WET CHAMBERS (shown as No. 2 in figures 1-10) MOUNTED WITH SIX SMALLER ELLIPTICAL CYLINDERS (shown as No. 5 in the figures 1-10). THESE CONTAIN ELLIPTICAL PISTONS (shown as No. 8 in the figures 1-10) DRIVEN BY A HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. EACH CHASSIS MAIN CYLINDER (shown as No. 1 in the figures 1-10) ALSO CONTAINS TWO DRY CHAMBERS AT ITS FAR ENDS. WITHIN EACH OF THESE SECTIONS ARE LOCATED THE SMALLER ROUND CYLINDERS OPERATING TWO HIGH DENSITY STRAPS (shown as No. 10 in the figures 1-10). THE HIGH DENSITY INTERWOVEN STRAPS (shown as No. 10 in the figures 1-10) EXIT THE BODY OF THE MAIN CYLINDERS (shown as No. 1 in the figures 1-10) THROUGH SIZE MATCHED HOLES (shown as No. 11 in the figures 1-10) ON BOTH SIDES FROM THE SIDE FACIA OF THE DRY SECTIONS. THE HIGH DENSITY INTERWOVEN STRAPS (shown as No. 10 in the figures 1-10) ARE GUIDED BY AND FORCED TO ROLL OVER A SET OF PULLEYS (shown as No. 7 in the figures 1-10). EACH MAIN CYLINDER (shown as No. 1 in the figures 1-10) IS FITTED WITH AN AIR RELEASE VALVE (shown as No. 14 in the figures 1-10) ON ITS TOP, CENTRE FAR END. THE MAIN CYLINDERS (shown as No. 1 in the figures 1-10) CAN BE USED INDIVIDUALLY OR AS MULTIPLES OF TWO AND THE NUMBER OF ELLIPTICAL TEETH (shown as No. 9 in the figures 1-10) CAN VARY TO SUIT REQUIREMENTS. EACH PISTON IN TURN, DRIVES ELLIPTICAL TEETH (shown as No. 9 in the figures 1-10), WHICH ARE MANUFACTURED OF HARDENED STEEL, CAPPED WITH AN ALLOY, SUCH AS (RA 3-10 OR INCOLOY DS), THAT ARE BOTH HARD AND HEAT RESISTANT. THE CHASSIS-MAIN CYLINDER (shown as No. 1 in the figures 1-10) IS SEALED AND PROVIDES A RESERVOIR FOR THE HYDRAULIC FLUID ACTING AT THE SAME TIME AS A MAIN CYLINDER OPERATING ALL ELLIPTICAL PISTONS (shown as No. 8 in the figures 1-10) AT EQUAL PRESSURE. THE CHASSIS-MAIN CYLINDER (shown as No. 1 in the figures 1-10) HAS SIDES, WHICH ARE COVERED WITH SHOCK ABSORBENT LATEX THAT CAN BE REPLACED WHEN WORN. THIS FEATURE PROVIDES A DAMPING EFFECT WHEN WORKING IN CONTACT WITH ADJACENT PILES, AS IS THE CASE WITH SECANT WALLING.

THE STRUCTURE OF THE CHASSIS-MAIN CYLINDER (shown as No. 1 in the figures 1-10) IS CONSTRUCTED WITH INNER REINFORCING WALLS (shown as No. 3 in the figures 1-10). THESE ARE PERFORATED TO ALLOW THE FLOW OF HYDRAULIC FLUID BETWEEN THE INNER SECTIONS.

THE INNER REINFORCING WALLS (shown as No. 3 in the figures 1-10) PROVIDE A DUAL FUNCTION OF MOVING THE CENTRE OF MAXIMUM PRESSURE AWAY FROM ANY WALLING. THIS LIMITS (almost entirely) THE RISK OF DEFORMATION OF THE OUTER WALLING AND THUS PROLONGS THE LIFESPAN OF THE PILE BREAKER.

ALL THE COMPONENTS OF THE CHASSIS-MAIN CYLINDER (shown as No. 1 in the figures 1-10) ARE MANUFACTURED FROM A SPECIAL TYPE OF ALUMINIUM ALLOY, WHICH HAS BEEN FORMED, INTO PLATES UNDER HIGH PRESSURE TO PROVIDE MAXIMUM DENSITY AND STRENGTH.

THE MANUFACTURED COMPONENTS ARE THEN JOINED TOGETHER BY WELDING (using the same material as welding rod). CORNER JOINTS BETWEEN THESE COMPONENTS ARE FURTHER REINFORCED BY A JOINT LINING WITH THE PROFILE OF A RIGHT ANGLED TRIANGLE WHERE THE HYPOTENUSE IS REPLACED BY AN ARC. THE ADDITIONAL ARC PROFILES HAVE A SOLID FORMATION. THEY ARE WELDED INTO PLACE IN THE PROCESS OF MANUFACTURE. THIS ADDITIONAL ROUNDING FEATURE OF THE INTERIOR CORNERS VASTLY IMPROVES THE EQUALISATION OF PRESSURE FLOW WITHIN THE CHASSIS-MAIN CYLINDER (shown as No. 1 in the figures 1-10) AS WELL AS ITS RIGIDITY.

EACH PAIRED SECTION IS JOINED TO THE OTHER BY A WIDE, HIGH DENSITY STRAP (shown as No. 10 in the figures 1-10) MADE OF INTERWOVEN TEXTILE FIBRES. THE STRAP (shown as No. 10 in the figures 1-10) IS APPROXIMATELY 5mm THICK AND 150 mm WIDE. THE STRAPS (shown as No. 10 in the figures 1-10) ARE ABLE TO WITHSTAND - ABSORB APPROXIMATELY 3 TIMES THE MAXIMUM TOTAL LEVEL OF RESULTING FORCES. THE STRAP'S (shown as No. 10 in the figures 1-10) ALSO ENABLE USE OF THIS INVENTION ON SECANT WALLING WHERE THE DISTANCES BETWEEN THE PILES ARE MINIMAL. EACH STRAP (shown as No. 10 in the figures 1-10) IS CONNECTED TO ITS CHASSIS-MAIN CYLINDER (shown as No. 1 in the figures 1-10) BY A FIXED PIN (shown as No. 15 in the figures 1-10) JOINT ON BOTH OPPOSITE SIDES OF ONE CHASSIS-MAIN CYLINDER (shown as No. 1 in the figures 1-10). EACH PIN IS FITTED WITH A DRILLED HORIZONTAL HOLE (shown as No. 16 in the figures 1-10) IN ITS BOTTOM SECTION INTO WHICH A RETENTION DEVICE IS TO BE INSERTED TO HOLD IT IN ITS PRESET POSITION. ON EACH OPPOSITE SIDE IS A CONSTANTLY ADJUSTED HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED, ROUND CYLINDER (shown as No. 6 in the figures 1-10). BOTH OF THESE ROUND CYLINDERS (shown as No. 6 in the figures 1-10) RECEIVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF PRESSURE AS THE CHASSIS, MAIN CYLINDER (shown as No. 1 in the figures 1-10). THE FREE END OF THE STRAP (shown as No. 10 in the figures 1-10) IS INSERTED INTO THIS RECEPTOR LINK. THIS MECHANISM ALLOWS AN OPTIONAL DESIGN WHERE ONE MAIN CYLINDER (shown as No. 1 in the figures 1-10) HOLDS WITHIN ONE OF ITS SIDE DRY SECTIONS THE ROUND CYLINDER (shown as No. 6 in the figures 1-10) AND WITHIN ITS OTHER DRY SECTION A PIN JOINT (shown as No. 15 in the figures 1-10). THIS DESIGN IS TO BE USED AS A SINGLE UNIT, WHICH CAN BE OPERATED INDEPENDENTLY WHERE ACCESS TO THE PILE (S) IS RESTRICTED TO ONE FACE. SUCH CASES WOULD PREVENT MOUNTING OF THE SECOND UNIT ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE. THIS IS DONE IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE SHORT STRAP (shown as No. 10 in the figures 1-10) IS EXCHANGED FOR A LONGER STRAP (shown as No. 10 in the figures 1-10) THAT GOES ROUND THE PILE AND IS JOINED BACK TO THE SAME UNIT.

EACH SINGLE UNIT HAS FOUR LIFTING EYES (shown as No. 13 in the figures 1-10) MOUNTED ON ITS UPPER SURFACE, TWO JUST BEHIND AND TWO IN FRONT OF THE IMAGINARY LINE, WHICH BOTH BISECTS THE CENTRE OF GRAVITY AND IS PARALLEL TO THE FOREMOST POINTS OF THE UNIT.

THE PRESSURE HOSE LINKAGE (shown as No. 12 in the figures 1-10) IS ON THE UPPER FACE, CENTRALLY PLACED AT THE REAR OF EACH UNIT. WHEN THE UNITS ARE USED NORMALLY, (i. e. PAIRED), THEN THE HYDRAULIC HOSES ARE FED THROUGH a (T) or a (Y) JOINT TO ALLOW EVEN DISTRIBUTION OF PRESSURE BETWEEN BOTH CHASSIS-MAIN CYLINDERS (shown as No. 1 in the figures 1-10) AND ALL TWELVE SECONDARY (guiding) ONES.

ALTHOUGH THE SYSTEM DESCRIBED WITHIN THIS APPLICATION USES AS AN ILLUSTRATION, HYDRAULIC FLUID TO PROVIDE THE PRESSURE REQUIRED FOR BREAKING THE PILE, EXACTLY THE SAME EFFECT CAN BE ACHIEVED WITH COMPRESSED AIR. THIS ALTERNATE MEANS OF PROVIDING PRESSURE CAN BE USED WITH THIS EXACT STRUCTURE AS THE UNITS ARE SEALED AGAINST LEAKAGE.

INSIDE EACH MAIN CYLINDER (shown as No. 1 in the figures 1-10) THERE ARE SIX SMALLER ELLIPTICAL CYLINDERS (shown as No. 5 in the figures 1-10) WELDED INTO THE FRONT FACIA (shown as No. 4 in the figures 110). EACH ONE THEN PROVIDES THE SETTING FOR AN ELLIPTICAL PISTON (shown as No. 8 in the figures 1-10). EACH PISTON (shown as No. 8 in the figures 1-10) COMPRISES OF AN ELLIPTICAL SHAPE WHICH IS 75% HOLLOW. THE SOLID FRONT OF THE PISTON (shown as No. 8 in the figures 1-10) PROVIDES A MOUNTING FOR THE BREAKING TOOTH (shown as No. 9 in the figures 1-10). THE PISTON (shown as No. 8 in the figures 1-10) IS CONSTRUCTED OF HIGH DENSITY, PRESSED ALUMINIUM ALLOY OF THE SAME KIND. THE SOLID FRONT PORTION OF THE PISTON (shown as No. 8 in the figures 1-10) CONTAINS AN ELLIPTICAL HOLE OF IDENTICAL PROPORTIONS TO THE TOOTH (shown as No. 9 in the figures 1-10) MOUNTING TO ALLOW FOR ATTACHMENT.

THE INSIDES OF THE ELLIPTICAL PISTONS (shown as No. 8 in the figures 1-10) AND ELLIPTICAL CYLINDERS (shown as No. 5 in the figures 1-10) ARE TREATED WITH A HARDENER TO ENSURE A LONG LIFE SPAN.

ELLIPTICAL SHAPE DESIGN OF THE TEETH, CYLINDERS, df PISTONS ENSURES THAT THE ELLIPTICAL TEETH (shown as No. 9 in the figures 110) REMAIN IN A PRESET HORIZONTAL CUTTING POSITION AS ROTATION IS ELIMINATED.

EACH TOOTH (shown as No. 9 in the figures 1-10) COMPRISES OF AN ELLIPTICAL SOLID SHAPE TAPERED TOWARDS THE FRONT. THE BREAKING SURFACE IS FORMED BY TWO CONCAVE INDENTATIONS AT TOP OF THE TOOTH (shown as No. 9 in the figures 1-10) AND A HIGHLY SHARPENED TRIANGULAR FRONT EDGE AND A FLAT HORIZONTAL UNDERSIDE. THIS CONSTRUCTION OF THE TOOTH (shown as No. 9 in the figures 1-10) ALLOWS IT TO BREAK THE CONCRETE STRUCTURE WHILE AVOIDING CAUSING DAMAGE TO ANY PART OF THE INTERNAL METAL REINFORCEMENTS. THE ELLIPTICAL TEETH (shown as No. 9 in the figures 1-10) ARE DESIGNED AS EXCHANGEABLE TO ACHIEVE LOWER COST OF MAINTENANCE. THE PILE BREAKER CONSTRUCTION DESIGN CAN ALSO BE MADE OF SMALLER SINGULAR SECTIONS CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER BY MEANS OF CLASSICAL PIN-HOLE JOINTS OR BY ANY OTHER SUITABLE MEANS.

THE ELLIPTICAL DESIGN OF THE CYLINDERS USED CAN ALSO BE REPLACED WITH CLASSICAL ROUND SHAPED ONES WHILE THE AVOIDANCE OF TEETH TURNING CAN BE ACHIEVED BY OTHER MEANS THAN MENTIONED WITHIN THIS DESCRIPTION.

EACH CHASSIS-MAIN CYLINDER (shown as No. 1 in the figures 1-10) IS FITTED WITH SIX ELLIPTICAL TEETH (shown as No. 9 in the figures 1-10); EACH MOUNTED ON IT IS OWN PISTON/CYLINDER STRUCTURE, AND PROTRUDING FROM THE FRONT FACE PART BETWEEN THE TWO REINFORCED FACIA (shown as No. 4 in the figures 1-10) IN A CURVE.

THE PILE BREAKING ACTION IS EXECUTED BY PAIRS OF ELLIPTICAL TEETH (shown as No. 9 in the figures 1-10) ACTING AGAINST EACH OTHER ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE CONCRETE PILE. THIS OCCURS WHEN TWO UNITS ARE USED TOGETHER. IT IS THIS FORMATION WHICH RESULTS IN MAXIMUM HORIZONTAL INTERIOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE, THAT IS SOLELY LIMITED TO THE CONCRETE PART OF THE PILE BETWEEN THE ELLIPTICAL TEETH (shown as No. 9 in the figures 110) AND ITS ADJACENT STRUCTURAL SURROUNDINGS. THIS MEANS PROVIDING THAT THE PILE BREAKER IS SET AT A SMALL DISTANCE FROM WHERE THE PILE IS REQUIRED TO BE EFFECTIVE THEN NO DAMAGE OCCURS TO THE INTEGRITY OF THE REMAINING PILE.

ACCOMPANYING FIGURES FIG (1/10) SHOWS THE FULL TOP VIEW OF PAIRED PILE BREAKER VERSION, IN OPERATION ON 3 PILES OF SECANT CONCRETE WALLING.

FIG (2/10) SHOWS THE TOP DETAIL VIEW OF A SINGLE PILE BREAKER MAIN CYLINDER.

FIG (3/10) SHOWS THE FRONT VIEW OF THE FIRST MAIN CYLINDER SECTION INCORPORATING SMALLER ROUND CYLINDERS AND FOUR GUIDING STRAP PULLEYS.

FIG (4/10) SHOWS THE FRONT VIEW OF THE SECOND MAIN CYLINDER SECTION INCORPORATING RETENTION PINS AND TWO GUIDING STRAP PULLEYS.

FIG (5/10) SHOWS THE MAIN CYLINDER DRY SECTION TOP DETAIL VIEW INCORPORATING STRAP JOIN MECHANISM CREATED BY PIN AND PULLEY.

FIG (6/10) SHOWS THE MAIN CYLINDER DRY SECTION TOP DETAIL VIEW INCORPORATING STRAP GUIDING AND EXTENSION MECHANISM CREATED BY THE USE OF ROUND HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS AND A SET OF GUIDING PULLEYS.

FIG (7/10) SHOWS THE TOP CUT DETAIL POSITION VIEW OF ELLIPTICAL CYLINDERS AND PISTONS.

FIG (8/10) SHOWS THE FRONT VIEW OF ELLIPTICAL CYLINDER/PULLEY POSITION IN DETAIL.

FIG (9/10) SHOWS THE ELLIPTICAL CYLINDER AND TOOTH FRONT VIEW IN DETAIL.

FIG (10/10) SHOWS THE MAIN CYLINDER DRY SECTION DETAIL INCORPORATING PULLEY AND PIN IT THEIR POSITIONS.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A HYDRAULIC PILE BREAKER THAT IS ADJUSTABLE AND CAN BE MANUFACTURED TO COPE WITH ANY SIZE OR SHAPE OF CONCRETE PILE AND ITS REINFORCING BARS.
2. A PILE BREAKER AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1, BUT DRIVEN BY COMPRESSED AIR.
3. A HARDENED TRIANGULAR BREAKER TOOTH (shown as No. 9 in the figures 1-10) WITH TWO CONCAVED TOP SIDES.
4. AN ADJUSTABLE HIGH DENSITY INTERWOVEN LINKING STRAP (shown as No. 10 in the figures 1-10) CONTROLLED BY HYDRAULICS.
5. AN ADJUSTABLE HIGH DENSITY INTERWOVEN LINKING STRAP (shown as No. 10 in the figures 1-10) AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 4, BUT CONTROLLED BY COMPRESSED AIR.
6. A PILE BREAKER AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1 ce 2 THAT CAN OPERATE AS A SINGLE UNIT.
7. A PILE BREAKER AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1 zu 2, THAT CAN OPERATE UNDER FRESH OR SALT WATER.
8. A PILE BREAKER AS DESCRIBED IN CLAIMS 1 zu 2 WHICH IS CONSTRUCTED OF DENSE ALUMINIUM ALLOY OR ANY OTHER METALLIC OR METALLIC ALLOY MATERIAL.
9. A PILE BREAKER AS DESCRIBED IN CLAIMS 1 zu 2 THAT IS CONSTRUCTED OF ANY SUITABLE DENSE POLYMER.
10. A PILE BREAKER AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1 THAT IS DRIVEN BY HYDRAULIC FLUID PRESSURISED FROM A DIRECT PUMP OR OTHER SUITABLE SOURCE SUCH AS A TELE HANDLER OR AN EXCAVATOR.
11. A PILE BREAKER AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 2 THAT IS DRIVEN BY PRESSURISED AIR FROM A STAND ALONE COMPRESSOR OR OTHER SUITABLE SOURCE.
12. A MAIN CYLINDER (shown as No. 1 in figures 1-10) IS CLAIMED WHERE THE BODY ACTS AS A FLUID/AIR RESERVOIR AND SMALLER ELLIPTICAL CYLINDERS (shown as No. 5 in the figures 1 10) ARE CONTAINED THEREIN.
13. A PILE BREAKER AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 12 WHERE THE MAIN CHASSIS (shown as No. 1 in the figures 1-10) IS FULL OF AIR (NOT PRESSURISED) AND SMALL HYDRAULIC HOSES FEED EACH ELLIPTICAL CYLINDER (shown as No. 5 in the figures 1-10) OR ROUND CYLINDER (shown as No. 6 in the figures 1-10) INDIVIDUALLY AS IN A STANDARD CYLINDER OPERATION.
14. A PILE BREAKER AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 13 WHERE THE STANDARD CYLINDERS ARE OPERATED BY COMPRESSED AIR FED INDIVIDUALLY.
15. AN EXCHANGEABLE LATEX SIDE PADDING FUNCTIONING AS A VIBRATION DAMPER BETWEEN AND ADJACENT CONCRETE PILES IS CLAIMED.
16. A PILE BREAKER SUBSTANTIALLY AS DESCRIBER HEREIN WITH REFERENCE TO FIGURES 1 TO 10 OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS.