Improvements in Pile Driving Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 20th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 5th Nov., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pile Driving Machines.
I THOMAS LEES of the Kings Arms Hotel Girvan, in the County of Ayr,
North Britain, Hotel Keeper, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My said invention has for its object the more expeditious working of pile driving
rams. By the ordinary way in which these rams are worked delay is caused
through having to return the end of the chain to the ram every time the ram
descends. This delay is greatly lessened by my invention, as the necessity of
returning the end of the chain to the ram is entirely obviated.
In carrying out my invention the ram is worked on a frame with the ordinary
upright slide for the ram, having the usual opening along the centre of the slide.
The ram is elevated by an endless chain or belt suitably constructed.
The chain or belt is made to travel along the ram-slide but on the opposite side
from that on which the ram moves. That part of the chain or belt nearest to the
ram-slide is made to travel upwards, working round a pulley or drum at or near the
lower end of the ram-slide and a pulley or drum at or near its upper end.
The ram has an attachment movably fixed on its side next to the chain or belt
which is constructed to move vertically. To the top of the attachment is fixed a
trigger which moves on a horizontal axis at a point between its two ends. One
end of the trigger has a hook or catch, & projects through the opening in the ram-
slide towards the chain or belt; its other end projects in the opposite direction
along the top of the ram.
When the ram is at rest the movable attachment drops to its lowest point and
pulls downwards the end of the trigger which projects towards the chain or belt,
the other end of the trigger being held up by the top of the ram. By this move-
ment the trigger is hooked on to the chain or belt and the upward motion of this
part of the chain or belt raises the ram suspended by the trigger.
When the ram is suspended the movable attachment is at its highest point on
the ram, and the end of the trigger, which before had rested on the top of the
ram, is now lifted off and into a position which, when pressed or pulled down, the
other end of the trigger is unhooked from the chain or belt and the ram allowed
to fall. The movable part and trigger being attached to the ram falls with it.
When the ram comes into contact with the pile the movable attachment again
drops to its lowest point, and the trigger is thereby hooked on to the chain or belt
in the manner already described, and thus the process of elevating and dropping
the ram is continued so long as the chain or belt is kept in motion.
The pressure required to unhook the trigger is applied by a weight or other
equivalent hung from, or otherwise movably attached to, the upper end of the ram-
slide in a way that when the end of the trigger above the ram is brought into
contact with the weight or other equivalent that end of the trigger is pressed
down, unhooking the other end from the chain or belt. The weight or other
equivalent can be raised or lowered at will, so that the contact may take place at
any desired point of elevation.
If it is desired the hooking and unhooking of the trigger may be done by fixing
the trigger to the ram without the movable attachment, (the trigger to move on
its axis as before described) the ram having a vertical opening right through it at
In the opening
a point under the end of the trigger which projects along the ram.
a suitable rod is placed, fully longer than the opening, and in a way that when the
ram strikes, the rod is forced upwards by its lower end coming into contact with
the object struck, thereby causing its upper end to raise the end of the trigger

page_text: under which the rod is placed, and by this movement the other end of the trigger
is hooked on to the chain or belt. The unhooking is done in a way similar to
that previously described, and thus also the working of the ram may be attained.
Dated this Eighteenth day of December 1891.
THOMAS LEES.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pile Driving Machines.
I, THOMAS LEES of the Kings Arms Hotel, Girvan in the County of Ayr,
North Britain, Hotel Keeper, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer
tained in and by the following statement :-
My said invention has for its object to provide means for more expeditiously
working pile driving rams. In the ordinary method of working such rams much
delay is caused through the necessity of having to return the end of the suspending
chain to the ram every time the latter descends.
Under the present invention this necessity of returning is entirely obviated and
consequently more expeditious working is ensured.
In carrying out my invention the essential features of which are illustrated under
one modification in front elevation by Figure 1 and in vertical section by Figure 2
of the accompanying drawings, the ram A is worked on a frame B having the
ordinary upright slide guide C and the usual opening D between the cheeks of the
slide. The ram A. is raised by an endless chain or band E passed over pulleys or
drums F and situated on the opposite side of the frame B, the part of the chain
for the time being nearest to the frame moving upwards. The ram has an attach-
ment G situated within a channel or sleeve near the face next to the chain or
band E which attachment is capable of an independent vertical movement. On
the top of the attachment a trigger H. is centred on a longitudinal pin as indicated
and one end of the said trigger has a hook or catch which projects through the
opening in the ram slide towards the chain or band, its other or tail end projecting
in the opposite direction along the top of the ram.
►
After each drop of the ram and when it is at rest on the top of the pile I the
attachment G descends within its sleeve until it is wholly or nearly so contained
within the body of the ram. This movement pulls downwards the hooked end of
the trigger projecting towards the chain E, the tail end of the trigger being held
up by the top of the ram, the effect of which is that, the trigger is hooked on to
the chain E. By so hooking on the trigger the attachment G is first moved to its
extreme upward position the height of the head of the attachment and of the tail
of the trigger from the top of the ram being dependent upon and regulated by the
depth of the collar y of the attachment and that of the recess in which it works.
When the attachment G has reached the limit of its independent upward move-
ment the chain E begins to raise the ram and continues to do so until the desired
height is obtained and which is regulated by the position of the weight J or its
equivalent suspended by the rope or chain K or otherwise movably attached to the
frame. The weight or equivalent is capable of being raised and lowered as
required to suit the length of drop to be given to the ram and when the tail end of
'the trigger H comes in contact with the said weight it is depressed and releases the
hooked end from the chain as indicated by the dotted lines on Figure 2 thereby
causing the ram to drop on to the head of the pile. When the ram comes into
contact with the pile the movable attachment G again drops to its lowest point and
the trigger is thereby hooked on to the chain or band in the manner already
described and thus the process of elevating and dropping the ram is continued so
long as the chain or band is kept in motion.
Ünder a modification partly illustrated by Figure 3 of the drawings the trigger H
may be centred on the top of the ram A and its hooking on to the chain E effected

page_text: by the operation of a vertical rod or bar L passing loosely through the ram.
Whilst the ram in suspension and during its fall the lower end of the said rod or
bar projects below it so that when the ram is about to strike the rod commences to
be projected upwards to raise the tail end of the trigger the upward movement
being completed and the ram again hooked on to the chain iminediately the blow
is struck. The unhooking is effected as herein before set forth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a pile driving machine the combination of the ram A suspending attach
ment G and trigger H, substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2
of the accompanying drawings.
2. In a pile driving machine the combination of the suspending attachment G,
trigger H and weight J or equivalent, said parts operating automatically to attach
and release the ram to and from an endless travelling chain or band substantially
as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed drawings.
3. In a pile driving machine the combination of the ram A trigger centred ou
said ram and rod L operating said trigger substantially as described with reference
to Figure 3 of the appended drawings.
4. In a pile driving machine the combination of the trigger H rod L and
weight J or equivalent operating automatically to attach and release the ram to
and from an endless travelling chain or band substantially as described with
reference to Figure 3 of the drawings annexed.
Dated this Nineteenth day of September 1892.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.