Patent Publication Number: US-8534960-B2

Title: Piling device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a national phase entry under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Patent Application PCT/SG2008/000284, filed Jul. 31, 2008, published in English as International Patent Publication WO 2010/014039 A1 on Feb. 4, 2010, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by this reference. 
     FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to the construction and building industries and, in particular, to constructing foundations. The invention specifically relates to a device for driving piles, and will hereinafter be described in that context. Nevertheless, it is to be understood that the invention need not be limited to that specific use and may instead have a broader application to that described herein. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The driving of reinforced concrete and H-beam piles is of fundamental importance in an array of construction and building applications. Various pile-driving techniques exist involving the use of a range of pile-driving devices. 
     One form of existing pile-driving devices is the hammer piling device. Hammer piling devices include a hammer, which is used to repeatedly free-fall on the upper end of a pile to drive it into the ground. The hammer is mounted in an upstanding steel frame and is lifted within the frame using a hydraulic lifting assembly. The steel frame may be mounted directly on the ground at a location in which it is desired to hammer a pile. Alternatively, the steel frame may be mounted on the tray of a truck in order to provide mobility to the device. Advantageously, hammer piling devices are relatively cost effective to manufacture and use and, if mobile, relatively easily movable between piling sites. One major disadvantage of hammer piling devices is that repeated impact of the hammer on the upper end of the pile is very noisy. Indeed, the repeated hammer impact on the pile can generate ground vibration that is not only unpleasant, but can lead to structural damage of surrounding buildings and other structures. 
     Another option exists in the form of hole boring devices. Rather than hammering a pile into the ground, a hole can be bored into the ground to the required depth, following which a pile is placed into the hole. Hole-boring devices incorporate a downwardly directed rotating bore rotatably mounted within a steel support frame. The bore is rotated by a suitably configured rotating mechanism. The frame may be mounted directly on the ground at a location in which it is desired to bore a hole. Alternatively, the frame, rotating bore and rotating mechanism may be mounted on a truck tray in order to provide a mobile arrangement. 
     Boring devices provide the benefit of generating less noise and unpleasant and potentially damaging vibrations in the area surrounding the boring site. Boring devices are also effective for use in large-scale piling operations. Disadvantages of using boring devices include the fact that they have generally higher operating costs when compared to hammer piling devices. It is also more time consuming to bore a hole than hammer a pile. A dedicated area must also be temporarily provided in the vicinity for placing soil to be used in backfilling a pile hole. This can be inconvenient on cramped sites. 
     It is possible to use a boring device in conjunction with a hammer piling device. In this regard, a hole may be initially partially pre-bored using a boring device. A pile may then be inserted into the partially pre-bored hole and a hammer piling device then used to hammer the pile to the desired depth. Partially pre-boring the hole advantageously reduces the amount of vibration generated when compared to using a hammer piling device for the entire process. However, drawbacks do exist in partially pre-boring a hole, including increases in time and cost. Further, partial pre-boring is generally only useful in applications of limited capacity. 
     Hence, each of the above-described techniques has associated shortcomings. 
     Hydraulic piling devices (often referred to as “silent piling devices”) have been developed in an attempt to address at least some of these shortcomings. The general configuration of hydraulic piling devices is to include an upstanding support frame, with one or more hydraulic jacking cylinders connected to and extending downwardly within the frame. An arrangement for engaging an upper end of a pile is generally connected to a lower end of the jacking cylinders. Alternatively, the arrangement for engaging an upper end of a pile is replaced with a gripping arrangement for gripping around the pile. The gripping arrangement would typically also be connected to a lower end of the jacking cylinders. 
     In such an arrangement, extension of the hydraulic cylinders causes the pile to be forced (or pushed) into the ground. Counterweights are typically provided on the support frame to ensure that extension of the hydraulic cylinders forces the pile into the ground, rather than causing the hydraulic piling device to lift upwardly from the ground. 
     One advantage of hydraulic piling devices is that they generate far less noise and ground vibration when compared to hammer piling devices. 
     Disadvantages of many existing hydraulic piling devices include the relatively time-consuming process of moving those devices from one piling site to another piling site. This is exacerbated by the design of these devices, which require counterweights to be unloaded from the device before the device can be moved. The counterweights then have to be reloaded onto the device before it can be used to drive a pile at the next site. 
     The time-consuming process of moving many existing hydraulic piling devices is also undesirable in instances where a large object such as a rock is encountered during the piling process. A partially driven pile can undesirably create an extended downtime, as it is usually necessary to first break off the portion of the pile extending from the ground before going through the process of moving the piling device to another location. 
     The support frames of many existing hydraulic devices have a height approximating twice the pile length. This height can result in an inherently unstable device, which must be taken into consideration when moving, installing and operating the device. 
     A still further problem of many existing hydraulic piling devices is the fact that they are not adequately designed for operating on sloping or uneven ground. 
     Yet another problem with existing hydraulic piling devices is that it is not generally possible to drive a pile adjacent an existing object, such as wall, building or other structure, given that the support frames of existing devices are configured to surround the pile being driven into the ground. Thus, a space sufficient to temporarily accommodate the frame must be provided between the existing object and position of the pile-driving site. 
     The inventor has addressed a number of the aforementioned problems of many existing piling devices by designing a hydraulic piling device, the subject of International Patent Application No. PCT/SG2003/000177 (WO 2004/042152), the entire contents and disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. That device addresses the inherent instability of earlier hydraulic piling devices by providing a wider and more stable footing for support of the frame, hydraulic jacking cylinders and gripping arrangement when compared to that of existing hydraulic piling devices. The device also provides maneuverability of the frame, hydraulic jacking cylinders and gripping arrangement by providing frame-mounted footings that are movable relative to respective ground-mounted footings. This arrangement also provides for the movement of the device irrespective of whether counterweights are mounted thereon, thereby avoiding the need to unload the counterweights before moving the device. 
     Further, the device allows for the removal thereof from around a pile partially extending from the ground. This is possible because of the provision of openings provided in the opposing sides of the frame. The device can also be effectively used on sloping or uneven ground by the vertical adjustment of the frame-mounted footings relative to the respective ground-mounted footings. 
     The inventor&#39;s hydraulic piling device, the subject of International Patent Application No. PCT/SG2003/000177, has, therefore, provided considerable advances in piling devices generally and hydraulic piling devices in particular. 
     Nevertheless, it would be desirable to further improve the stability of existing hydraulic piling devices. 
     It would also be desirable to further improve the maneuverability of existing hydraulic piling devices. 
     It would be still further desirable to provide an arrangement enabling the driving of a pile adjacent or at least close to an existing object or structure. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     According to one broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a piling device. The device includes a support frame, a pile-gripping mechanism for gripping a pile and a pile-driving mechanism for driving the pile into the ground. The pile-gripping mechanism and the pile-driving mechanism are connected to and supported by the support frame. The device also includes a rotation assembly to facilitate rotation of the support frame relative to a rotation footing about a rotation axis. 
     Such an arrangement may enable the frame, pile-gripping mechanism and pile-driving mechanism to be rotated and subsequently maneuvered in a desired direction away from a pile extending partially from the ground. 
     In one particularly preferred form, the support frame includes a lower support frame portion, with an upstanding support frame portion mounted thereon, and with the pile-gripping mechanism and pile-driving mechanism connected to the upstanding support frame portion. 
     It is to be appreciated that rotation of the support frame relative to the rotation footing (and, hence, also rotation of the pile-gripping mechanism and pile-driving mechanism relative to the rotation footing) occurs in a generally horizontal plane, but that this will be at least partially dependent on the evenness and slope of the underlying ground. 
     The piling device may include a first set of ground-mounted footings and respective first set of frame-mounted footings, and a second set of ground-mounted footings and respective second set of frame-mounted footings. In one arrangement, the first set of ground-mounted footings and frame-mounted footings are disposed generally at one end of the piling device, and the second set of ground-mounted footings and frame-mounted footings are disposed generally at an opposite end of the piling device. The rotation footing is generally centrally located between the first set of ground- and frame-mounted footings and the second set of ground- and frame-mounted footings. 
     In one preferred form, the rotation footing is generally circular. 
     The rotation assembly may include at least one hydraulic motor to facilitate rotation of the support frame relative to the rotation footing. More preferably, however, the rotation assembly includes at least one pair of hydraulic motors, mounted on the rotation assembly on generally opposite sides of the rotation axis. 
     Any suitable arrangement may be provided to allow the frame to rotate upon and relative to the rotation footing. 
     The piling device preferably includes counterweights mounted on the support frame to prevent the frame moving during the piling operation. More specifically, the counterweights are provided to prevent the frame from lifting during the piling process. The counterweights may rest on horizontal support surfaces provided on opposite sides of the lower support frame portion. The counterweights may be releasably secured to the lower support frame portion. 
     Preferably, the rotation assembly is configured to also facilitate rotation of the counterweights relative to the rotation footing about the rotation axis. In this way, the counterweights need not be unloaded from the support frame prior to rotation of the frame about the rotation footing. 
     The rotation assembly may be operated via a control panel. 
     According to another broad aspect of the invention, there is provided a piling device. In this aspect, the device includes a support frame having a lower end mounted on a footing, a pile-gripping mechanism for gripping a pile, and a pile-driving mechanism for driving the pile into the ground. The pile-gripping mechanism and the pile-driving mechanism are connected to and supported by the support frame in a position generally proximate an outer side surface of the support frame. 
     In one particularly preferred form, the piling device includes a support frame having a lower support frame portion with an upstanding support frame portion mounted thereon. In this arrangement, the pile-gripping mechanism and the pile-driving mechanism are connected in a position generally proximate an outer side surface of the upstanding support frame portion. 
     In this way, the piling device may be used to drive a pile adjacent to or proximate another object, such as a wall, building or other structure. 
     The pile-gripping mechanism and pile-driving mechanism may be connected to a connection member, with the connection member connected to the outer side surface of the support frame (in particular, to an outer side surface of the upstanding support frame portion). 
     The pile-driving mechanism and the pile-gripping mechanism may include separate, but connected frames. 
     In one preferred form, the connection member is adjustably connected to the upstanding support frame portion, enabling a pile gripped by the pile-gripping mechanism to be moved relative to the upstanding support frame portion prior to being driven into the ground. Adjustment of the connection member relative to the upstanding support frame portion may be by way of a hydraulically operated actuator operated from a control panel, or by any other suitable means. 
     A pivotal displacement member in the form of an arm or pin may be provided to pivotally displace the pile-gripping mechanism and pile-driving mechanism relative to the connection member. In this way, a pile gripped by the pile-gripping mechanism can be aligned in a desired orientation to the frame and ground. The actuating arm or pin may be mounted at any suitable location. For example, the actuating arm or pin may be mounted to the connection member for contact with the pile-driving mechanism (or frame thereof) to pivotally adjust the pile-gripping mechanism and pile-driving mechanism relative to the connection member. In another possible arrangement, the actuating arm or pin may be mounted to the driving frame for contact with the connection member to pivotally adjust the pile-gripping mechanism and the pile-driving mechanism relative to the connection member. 
     The actuating arm or pin may include a screw-threaded arrangement. 
     The previously referred to outer side surface would typically be provided on an outer side of the support frame. In such an arrangement, the support frame preferably has an opposing outer side. Moreover, the piling device preferably includes a side support frame connected to the opposing outer side of the support frame. The side support frame may include a side support frame footing, with the side support frame footing being movable in a generally vertical direction relative to the side support frame. 
     The side support frame is provided to further stabilize the support frame during the driving of a pile and to assist in preventing lift of the support frame during the pile-driving process. 
     The piling device may include at least one hydraulic cylinder connected to and extending between the side support frame and the side support frame footing to facilitate generally vertical movement of the side support frame footing relative to the side support frame. In this way, the footing of the side support frame may be raised from the ground during operation of the rotation assembly. The footing may also be vertically adjusted to take into account uneven and/or sloping ground. 
     The piling device may include a hydraulically actuated crane or winch assembly for maneuvering a pile into a gripping position. Each of the pile-gripping mechanism and the pile-driving mechanism may include a side opening to readily allow a pile to be maneuvered by the crane or winch into the gripping position. 
     Both the hydraulic cylinder connected to and between the side frame and its associated footing and the hydraulically actuated crane or winch may be operated via a control panel. 
     In a preferred form, the support frame includes at least one pair of counterweight supports (and preferably two counterweight supports), with each counterweight support having a counterweight support surface for mounting counterweights thereon. Each counterweight support is preferably movable in a generally horizontal plane relative to the support frame between a piling position and a non-piling position. 
     It is to be appreciated that the non-piling position would generally correspond to each counterweight support (with counterweights mounted thereon) located directly above the lower support frame portion, and the piling position would generally correspond to at least a portion of each counterweight support (with counterweights mounted thereon) extending outwardly beyond the side of the support frame to the side of the pile-gripping mechanism and pile-driving mechanism. Such an arrangement is particularly desirable because it enables the counterweights to be more closely located about the pile-gripping and pile-driving mechanisms to resist lifting of the support frame during the piling process. 
     Movement of each counterweight support between the piling and non-piling positions may be by any suitable means. In one form, at least one generally horizontally disposed hydraulic cylinder is provided to facilitate movement of the counterweight supports between the piling and non-piling positions. Such an arrangement preferably also includes a roller assembly mounted between the support frame and the ground-mounted footing. 
     Preferably, at least one generally vertically disposed hydraulic cylinder is connected to and extends between the frame-mounted footing frame and the lower support frame portion for facilitating vertical displacement of the counterweight supports relative to the support frame. In a particularly preferred arrangement, a plurality of independently operable generally vertically disposed hydraulic cylinders are provided. This is desirable in order to counter any sinking into the ground that the frame (or at least one side of the frame) may experience when the counterweight supports are moved from the non-piling position to the piling position. 
     According to a further broad aspect, there is provided a piling device. In this aspect, the device includes a support frame having a lower end mounted on a footing, a pile-gripping mechanism for gripping a pile, and a pile-driving mechanism for driving the pile into the ground. The pile-gripping mechanism and the pile-driving mechanism are connected to and supported by the support frame. The piling device has a height, a width and a depth. The height is generally defined as extending between a lowermost portion of the device and an uppermost portion of the support frame. The width is generally defined as extending between a first outer edge of the footing and a second outer edge of the footing. The width is a larger dimension than the depth, and the ratio of the width to the height is at least 1.5:1.0. 
     This ratio of device width to device height is considered unique by the inventor, and is also considered to provide a fundamentally more stable piling device than existing hydraulic piling devices known to the inventor. As far as the inventor is aware, no one has previously been able to design a hydraulic piling device with these dimension ratios and, therefore, such an inherently stable device has not previously been possible. 
     More preferably, the ratio of the width of the device to the device height is at least 2.0:1.0. Still more preferably, the ratio of the device width to the device height is at least 2.3:1.0. 
     It is to be generally understood that the support frame may have a lower support frame portion, with an upper support frame portion mounted thereon. In such an arrangement, it is to be understood that the height may extend between a lowermost portion of the device and uppermost portion of the upper support frame portion. 
     More than one aspect of the invention has been described above. It is to be appreciated that these aspects can be considered separately or in combination. 
     It will now be convenient to hereinafter describe a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. The particularity of the drawings is to be understood as not limiting the preceding broad description of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates in diagrammatic form a front view of one embodiment of a piling device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the piling device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the piling device of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a hydraulic pile-driving device  10 . The pile-driving device  10  is configured for driving reinforced concrete and H-beam piles into the ground. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the pile-driving device  10  includes a steel support frame  12 . The support frame  12  includes a lower support frame portion  12   a , with an upper support frame portion  12   b  mounted thereon. The upper support frame portion  12   b  includes upstanding beams  14 ,  16  connected together using cross-beams  18  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     A pile-gripping mechanism  20  for gripping a pile P is provided. The pile-gripping mechanism  20  includes a gripping frame  22 , which houses powerful hydraulic cylinders (not clearly visible). The hydraulic cylinders are provided to actuate pile-engaging clamps (again, not clearly visible) provided within the pile-gripping mechanism  20 . The clamps are designed to grip about the circumference of the pile P. 
     A pile-driving mechanism  24  for driving the pile P in a downward direction into the ground is also provided. The pile-driving mechanism  24  includes a driving frame  26 . The gripping frame  22  is connected to and suspended beneath the driving frame  26 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , pile-gripping mechanism  20  and the pile-driving mechanism  24  are connected to a connection member  28 . The connection member  28  is connected to an outer side surface  30  of the upper support frame portion  12   b  of support frame  12 . In this way, the pile-driving device  10  may be used to drive a pile P adjacent to or proximate another object A (illustrated in dashed line format), such as a building, wall or other structure. This is difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish with existing hydraulic piling devices known to the inventor. 
     The connection member  28  is pivotally connected to the upper support frame portion  12   b  by pivot mounts  32 . The connection member  28  may be secured in a desired pivotal orientation to the upper support frame portion  12   b  via an adjustment bracket  34 . 
     A pivotal displacement member  36  in the form of a hydraulic actuator is provided. The pivotal displacement member  36  facilitates pivotal displacement of the connection member  28  (and thus also the pile-gripping mechanism  20  and pile-driving mechanism  24  (see  FIG. 1 )) relative to the upper support frame portion  12   b , when required, about the pivot mounts  32 . 
     The displacement member  36  is operated via a control panel (not illustrated). 
     Further, pivot mounts  38  are provided, connecting the pile-driving mechanism  24  ( FIG. 1 ) to the upper end of the connection member  28 . A further pivotal displacement member in the form of a threaded arm or pin  40  is provided for retaining the pile-gripping mechanism  20  and pile-driving mechanism  24  in a desired pivotal orientation about the pivot mounts  38  relative to the connection member  28 . 
     As can be seen from the drawings, the outer side surface  30  is provided on one side  44  of the upper support frame portion  12   b . The support frame  12  has an opposing side  46  disposed on the support frame  12  generally opposite to the side  44 . 
     The pile-driving device  10  includes a side support frame  48  connected to the opposing outer side  46  of the support frame  12 . The side support frame  48  includes a side support frame footing  50 . The side support frame footing  50  is movable in a generally vertical direction relative to the side support frame  48 , such that it can be raised from the ground, should it be necessary to move or rotate the pile-driving device  10 . Movement of the side support frame footing  50  is controlled by way of a control panel. 
     The side support frame  48  is provided to further stabilize the support frame  12  during the driving of a pile P. In this regard, the side support frame  48  assists in preventing lift of the support frame  12  from the ground during the pile-driving process. 
     One or more hydraulic cylinders  52  are connected to and extend between the side support frame  48  and the side support frame footing  50 , to facilitate movement of the side support frame footing  50  relative to the side support frame  48 . 
     The pile-driving device  10  includes a hydraulically actuated crane or winch assembly  54  for maneuvering a pile P into a gripping position. The crane or winch assembly  54  is mounted on the upper support frame portion  12   b . The pile-gripping mechanism  20  and pile-driving mechanism  24  include aligned side openings  56 ,  58  ( FIG. 1 ) to facilitate maneuvering of the pile P into a gripping position using the crane or winch assembly  54 . 
     The crane or winch assembly  54  may be at least partially operated by way of a control panel. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the lower support frame portion  12   a  is mounted on a footing  60 . The footing  60  includes ground-mounted footings  62  and corresponding frame-mounted footings  64 . Each of the ground-mounted footings  62  includes a channel  66 . Each channel  66  accommodates a frame-mounted footing  64 . Each pair of ground-mounted footings  62  and frame-mounted footings  64  are separated by roller bearings  68 . 
     Suitably orientated, horizontally extending hydraulic cylinders  71  (not clearly visible) are connected between the lower support frame portion  12   a  and the ground-mounted footings  62  for moving the pile-driving device  10  in the forward and reverse directions. Similarly, suitably orientated, horizontally extending hydraulic cylinders  71  are mounted to ground-mounted footings  62 . These cylinders are operable via a control panel. 
     The pile-driving device  10  also includes a rotation assembly  72  to facilitate rotation about a rotation axis YY of the support frame  12  relative to a circular rotation footing  74 . 
     Such an arrangement desirably enables the support frame  12 , the pile-gripping mechanism  20  and the pile-driving mechanism  24  to be rotated and subsequently maneuvered in a desired direction away from a pile that remains extending partially from the ground. 
     It is to be appreciated that rotation of the support frame  12  and, hence, also the pile-gripping mechanism  20  and pile-driving mechanism  24  relative to the rotation footing  74 , occurs in a generally horizontal plane, but that this will be at least partially dependent on the evenness and slope of the underlying ground. Rotation of the support frame  12  occurs about a vertically extending shaft  75  mounted to the rotation footing  74 . The shaft  75  provides stability and balance to the pile-driving device  10  during the rotation process. 
     The rotation assembly  72  includes an arrangement for rotating the support frame  12  thereon. The rotation assembly  72  includes a large gear wheel, pinion gears and rotation sliding rings (these are not clearly visible). The lower support frame portion  12   a  is mounted on or to the upper surface of the gear wheel, and the pinion gears are mounted to rotation footing  74 . The rotation sliding rings are suitably located between the rotation footing  74  and the lower support frame portion  12   a  to facilitate rotation therebetween. 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , the ground-mounted footings  62  and corresponding frame-mounted footings  64  can be generally regarded as being divided into a first set of ground- and frame-mounted footings  76  (provided at the left-hand end of  FIG. 1 ), and a second set of ground- and frame-mounted footings  78  (provided at the right-hand end of  FIG. 1 ). It can be seen that the rotation assembly  72  (including rotation footing  74 ) is generally centrally located between the two sets of footings  76 ,  78 . 
     A pair of hydraulic motors  80 ,  82  is provided to facilitate rotation of the support frame  12  relative to the rotation footing  74 . The arrangement of the motors is balanced, such that they are oppositely disposed about the rotation axis YY. The motors are operated by way of a control panel. 
     The pile-driving device  10  includes counterweights  84  mounted on the lower support frame portion  12   a  to prevent the support frame  12  moving during the piling operation. More particularly, the counterweights  84  are provided to prevent the support frame  12  from lifting during the piling process. The counterweights  84  rest on horizontal counterweight support surfaces  86  of counterweight supports  88 . The counterweight supports  88  are provided on opposite sides of the lower support frame portion  12   a . The counterweights  84  are releasably secured to the counterweight supports  88 . 
     It is to be appreciated that the rotation assembly  72  is configured to also facilitate rotation of the counterweights  84  relative to the rotation footing  74  about the rotation axis YY. In this way, the counterweights  84  need not be unloaded from the lower support frame portion  12   a  prior to rotation of the support frame  12  about the rotation footing  74 . 
     The counterweight supports  88  are movable in a generally horizontal plane relative to the lower support frame portion  12   a  between a piling position (B in  FIG. 3 ) and a non-piling position (C in  FIG. 3 ). The non-piling position C generally corresponds to the counterweight supports  88  (with counterweights  84  mounted thereon) located directly above the lower support frame portion  12   a , and the piling position B generally corresponds to a portion of the counterweight supports  88  (with counterweights  84  mounted thereon) extending outwardly beyond the side of the lower support frame portion  12   a  on either side of the pile-gripping and pile-driving mechanisms  20 ,  24 . Such an arrangement is particularly desirable because it enables the counterweights  84  to be more closely located about the pile-gripping and pile-driving mechanisms  20 ,  24  to further resist lifting of the support frame  12  during the piling process. 
     Movement of the counterweight supports  88  between the piling position B and the non-piling position C is possible by virtue of generally horizontally disposed hydraulic cylinders  90  ( FIG. 1 ). The cylinders  90  are connected to and extend between the lower support frame portion  12   a  and the counterweight supports  88  to facilitate movement of the counterweight supports  88  between the piling and non-piling positions B and C. A roller assembly (including rollers  92 ) is mounted between the lower support frame portion  12   a  and the counterweight supports  88 . 
     A plurality of generally vertically disposed hydraulic cylinders  94  are mounted in the frame-mounted footings  64  ( FIG. 1 ). The upper end of each cylinder  94  is pivotally connected to the lower support frame  12   a . The cylinders  94  are independently operable by the control panel so as to counter any sinking into the ground that the support frame  12  (or at least one side of the support frame) may experience when the counterweight supports  88  are moved from the non-piling position C to the piling position B. 
     Vertically extending sliding guides  96  are mounted to the lower support frame portion  12   a . The sliding guides  96  are slidably received in sliding guide holders  98 , which are mounted to the rod end of horizontally extending hydraulic cylinders  71  ( FIG. 1 ). The sliding guides  96  are movable in an upward and downward direction within the sliding guide holders  98 . 
     When the vertical cylinders  94  are activated, the action presses the ground-mounted footings  62  downward (pressing on the ground), and the other end of the vertical cylinder  94  lifts the lower support frame  12   a  and sliding guide  96  and the rotation footing  74  clear of the underlying ground. 
     Following this, the cylinders  71  connected to the sliding guide holders  98  can be used to push the lower support frame portion  12   a  forward along the roller bearings  68  (mounted on the ground-mounted footing  62 ) for moving the device  10 . 
     When the vertical cylinders  94  are activated, it is to pull the lower support frame portion  12   a , sliding guide  96  and rotation assembly  72  downward so as to press on the ground. The other end of each cylinder  94  is used to pull the ground-mounted footing  62  clear of the underlying ground. 
     Following this, the cylinders  71  (connected to the sliding guide holder  98 ) are used to pull the lower support frame  12   a  forward along the channels  66  for moving the pile-driving device  10 . The channels  66  include rollers mounted therein for engagement with flanged rolling plates provided on the frame-mounted footing  64 . 
     The pile-driving device  10  can generally be regarded as having a height y, a width x and a depth z. Referring to the figures, the height y is generally defined as extending between a lowermost portion of the pile-driving device  10  and an uppermost portion of the upper support frame portion  12   b . The width x is generally defined as extending between a first outer edge of the footing  60  and a second outer edge of the footing  60 . The width is a larger dimension than the depth, and the ratio of the width to the height is at least 1.5:1.0. This ratio of device width to device height is considered unique by the inventor, and is also considered to provide a fundamentally more stable pile-driving device  10  than existing hydraulic piling devices known to the inventor. As far as the inventor is aware, no one has previously been able to design a hydraulic piling device with these dimension ratios and, therefore, such an inherently stable device. While the aforementioned ratio is at least 1.5:1.0, more preferably it is at least 2.0:1.0, and still more preferably it is at least 2.3:1.0. It is to be appreciated that the higher the ratio, desirably the greater the inherent stability of the pile-driving device  10 . 
     Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the construction and arrangement of the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of this invention.