Improvements in Apparatus for Driving Piles.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Sept., 1886.
Complete Left, 7th June, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 8th July, 1887.
Improvements in Apparatus for Driving Piles.
We, HENDRIK FIGEE the Younger and JAN FIGEE trading as Figee Brothers of
Haarlem, Holland, Engineers do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The steam hammers now in use and especially the hammers of the Lacour system,
offer a number of disadvantages, the water arising from the condensation of the
steam runs along the rod of the piston on to the head of the pile and softens it, con-
siderably lessening the effect of the blow. Moreover the tube which conveys the
steam from the boiler to the hammer is compelled to follow the continuous movement
of the latter, so that in consequence of the repeated shocks, the tube very soon breaks
at its junction with the inlet tap.
The improved system of steain hammer which we offer does not have these disadvan-
tages, as will be seen from the description we give and from the accompanying
drawing.
The rod A of the piston B is placed towards the upper part of the apparatus and
fixed to an iron frame C, which ends at its lower part in a foot D, which rests on the
pile P which is to be driven in. This frame C serves as a guide for the cylinder E
which constitutes the hammer.
The rod A of the piston is hollow and is provided, near the piston, with small holes o
which give a passage for the steam, at the upper part of the rod is placed the tap r
which serves to admit the steam. When the steam is admitted into the hollow rod, it
passes through the holes o, above the piston, which remains in its place while
the cylinder or hammer rises, to fall again upon the pile as soon as the steam has
escaped.
As will be seen, no escape or leakage of condensed water can take place on to
the head of the pile, inasmuch as the rod of the piston remains at the upper part.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: We, HENDRIK FIGEE the Younger and JAN FIGEE trading as Figee Brothers of
Haarlem, Holland, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The steam hammers now in use and especially the hammers of the Lacour system
offer a number of disadvantages; the water arising from the condensation
of the steam runs along the rod of the piston on to the head of the pile
and softens it, considerably lessening the effect of the blow. Moreover the tube
which conveys the steam from the boiler to the hammer is compelled to follow the
continuous movement of the latter, so that in consequence of the repeated shocks, the
tube very soon breaks at its junction with the inlet tap.
The improved system of steam hammer which we offer does not have these dis-
advantages, as will be seen from the description we give and from the drawing left with
the provisional Specification.
The rod A of the piston B is placed towards the upper part of the apparatus and
fixed to an iron frame C, which ends at its lower part in a foot D, which rests on the
pile P which is to be driven in. This frame C serves as a guide for the cylinder E
which constitutes the hammer.
The rod A of the piston is hollow and is provided, near the piston, with small
holes o which give a passage for the steam, at the upper part of the rod is placed the
tap r, which serves to admit the steam. When the steam is admitted into the hollow
rod, it passes through the holes o, above the piston, which remains in its place while
the cylinder or hammer rises, to fall again upon the pile as soon as the steam has
escaped.
As will be seen, no escape or leakage of condensed water can take place on to the
head of the pile, inasmuch as the rod of the piston remains at the upper part.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is :-
1. Pile driving apparatus so arranged as to prevent the water resulting from the
condensation of the steam passing on to the head of the pile the piston rod projecting
upwards the cylinder being moveable and having the hammer or ram at its lower
end.
2. In pile driving apparatus the hollow piston rod fixed by its upper end and
serving as a passage for the steam whereby all movement of the steam pipe when at
work may be avoided.
3. Pile driving apparatus substantially as described and represented by the annexed
drawings.
11
1
00