Patent ID: 6447036
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: B66C,E02D

Abstract:
A clamp assembly for attaching a pile defining a longitudinal axis to a pile driving apparatus for inserting and/or extracting the pile, comprising:a housing; a first pivot assembly pivotably attached to the housing; a first gripping assembly rotatably attached to the first pivot assembly; a second pivot assembly pivotably attached to the housing; a second gripping assembly rotatably attached to the second pivot assembly; a first actuating assembly for displacing the first pivot assembly and the first gripping assembly such that the first gripping assembly moves towards the second gripping assembly; and a second actuating assembly for displacing the second pivot assembly and the second gripping assembly such that the second gripping assembly moves towards the first gripping assembly; wherein the first and second actuating assemblies move the first and second gripping assemblies towards each other such that the pile is gripped between the first and second gripping assemblies to inhibit axial and radial movement of the pile relative to the housing, and a center of gravity of the clamp assembly is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the pile.