Screw Piles.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Oct., 1886.
Complete Left, 1st July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 2nd Aug., 1887.
Screw Piles.
I FRANKLIN HILTON, of Middlesbrough-on-Tees, in the County of York, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to enable screw piles to be quickly and economically
driven into the ground by means of a machine such that as the piles sink the machine
will adapt itself to the varying conditions whilst at the same time ensuring a perfectly
straight line for placing the pile or piles, as also that the several piles in a structure
being erected shall have their centres the proper distance apart. For this purpose a
machine is employed that comprises one or more spindles according to the number of
piles to be simultaneously driven, each of these spindles being furnished with a device
to engage with the pile to be driven such as a cap having its interior of polygonal
form to fit on the correspondingly formed upper end of the pile to be driven. The spindle
is of square or polygonal cross section and extends through a correspondingly formed
hole in the nave or centre of a wheel driven by suitable gear. The wheel may be a
worm wheel driven by a worm on a shaft driven from any suitable motor. Two or
more wheels and spindles can be driven from the same motor which is supplied with
means also for raising and lowering the spindles as required. Whilst the pile is being
driven in the driving spindle and cap is supported by such pile, and as the pile
descends the spindle and cap follow it. The deep square or polygonal hole through
the driving wheel not only gives motion to the driving spindle, but acts as a guide
for keeping the pile plumb.
The whole of the machine is carried on a suitable frame or carriage that can be
mounted on doubly flanged travelling wheels. Where desired a clutch or clutches
may be provided for throwing the driving mechanism in and out of gear so that the
machine can adapt itself to varying circumstances such as irregular strata et cetera.
As will be evident apparatus to operate on the principle of my invention as above
set forth may be constructed in various forms.
ז
1
1
1000
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: 1, FRANKLIN HILTON, of Middlesbrough-on-Tees, in the County of York, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to he
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of this invention is to enable screw piles to be quickly and economically
driven into the ground by means of a machine such that as the piles sink the machine
will adapt itself to the varying conditions whilst at the same time several piles in a
structure being erected shall have their centres the proper distance apart. For this
-purpose-a-machine is-employed that comprises one or more spindles according to the
number of piles to be simultaneously driven, each of these spindles being furnished
with a device to engage with the pile to be driven, such as a cap having its interior of
polygonal form to fit on the correspondingly formed upper end of the pile to be driven.
The spindle is of square or polygonal cross section and extends through a corre-
spondingly formed hole in the nave or centre of a wheel driven by suitable gear. The
wheel may be a worm wheel driven by a worm on a shaft driven from any suitable
motor. Two or more wheels and spindles can be driven from the same motor which
is supplied with means also for raising and lowering the spindles as required. Whilst
the pile is being driven in, the driving spindle and cap are supported on such pile, and
as the pile descends the spindle and cap follow it. The deep square or polygonal hole
through the driving wheel not only gives motion to the driving spindle, but acts as a
guide for keeping the pile plumb.
The whole of the machine is carried in a suitable frame or carriage that can be
mounted on doubly flanged travelling wheels. Where desired, a clutch or clutches
may be provided for throwing the driving mechanism in and out of gear, so that the
machine can adapt itself to varying circumstances, such as irregular strata, et cetera.
As will be evident, apparatus to operate on the principle of my invention as above
set forth may be constructed in various forms. One convenient arrangement is
illustrated on the annexed sheet of drawings.
Fig. 1 is an end elevation showing the machine as arranged for driving simultaneously
two screw piles, and two suitably formed piles are shown.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

page_text: A is a carriage mounted on wheels B to run on rails C. D is a deck or flooring.
E is a substantial framework rising above the top of the carriage and supporting a
cross beam F to which is suspended lowering tackle as shown. The carriage and upper
framework and cross beam are shown constructed of wood, but they may be of metal.
G, G, are two worm wheels, one for each pile to be screwed in simultaneously. Each
wheel runs in double bearings H (one at each side of the wheel) fixed horizontally
to a strong girder I. The distance apart of the centres of the wheels must correspond
to the distance apart of the centres of the piles when driven. Each wheel has a square
hole through its centre. K, K, are two square driving spindles each passing through
the square hole of one of the wheels G. Near the lower end of each spindle is fixed
a metal cap K (it may be of cast iron) that exactly fits the head of the pile which
in the example illustrated is of octagonal form. M is a shaft mounted in bearings M'
and provided with worms M² each in gear with one of the worm wheels G. N is an
engine, which may be of the type illustrated, or of any other suitable kind. The worm
shaft M is driven from the engine N by the endless chain O, but I do not limit myself
to this method of driving. By means of another endless chain P passing around
a wheel fixed on the axle B', the engine can, when desired, be caused to propel
the carriage along the rails as required. The driving spindles K, K, are also raised
and lowered at pleasure by the same engine by means of the tackle as shown. The
various motions are regulated by means of suitable clutches on the engine as will be
readily understood from the drawing.
Q is a brake block hung from a shaft Q', which is worked by the lever R operated
by a hand-wheel or nut S and rod T; it is arranged to bear when necessary upon the
two wheels B on the axle B¹. U is a support for the upper screw-threaded end of the
rod T and corresponding wheel or nut S.
It will be observed that, in the example illustrated, the entire apparatus including
engines, boiler, tan, etc., are mounted upon the carriage A.
I have already indicated that the arrangement illustrated might be modified. If
desirable, the arrangement might be such that the worms on the worm shaft could be
thrown in and out of gear by means of clutches, so that the machine could adapt itself
to varying circumstances, such as irregular strata, et cetera. The pile heads, instead
of being, as shown, octagonal, might be of any other convenient form. The
frame or carriage might be made like an over-head travelling crane, and could travel
on staging. The transmission of the motive power to the gearing, instead of being
effected through an endless chain, might be accomplished by other means, such as
sbafting and gearing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner it is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
In machinery or apparatus for driving screw piles,
1. The use of a spindle furnished with a device to engage with a pile to be driven,
and extending through a hole in a wheel in which the said spindle is able to move
longitudinally, but in which the spindle cannot rotate independently of the wheel, the
said wheel being provided with means to enable rotary motion to be imparted to it
from a suitable motor, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The use of two or more spindles according to the number of piles to be simultaneously
driven, each of these spindles being furnished with a device to engage with a pile to be
driven, and each passing through a hole in a wheel, so that the spindle can move
longitudinally in relation to the wheel, but cannot rotate independently of it; and
means for driving both or all of the said wheels and their spindles simultaneously, so
that two or more screw piles can be screwed into the ground simultaneously as
set forth.
3. The combination with a spindle and means for guiding and rotating the same, of
a polygonal or equivalent cap fixed to the spindle, and arranged to fit or be engaged
by a correspondingly formed metal part on the end of a screw pile, and tackle for
raising and lowering the spindle, the arrangement being such that the raising and

page_text: lowering and rotary motions can all be effected from one engine, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
4. The combination of two or more spindles each provided with caps or parts made
to fit upon or engage with piles, and worm wheels through which the said spindles
extend, the arrangement being such that the spindles can move longitudinally, but
cannot rotate independently of their respective worm wheels; a shaft with worms that
gear with the said worm wheels; a motor and means for rotating the said worm shaft
from the said motor, so as to simultaneously drive as many piles as there are spindles,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
Lastly. I claim the machine for driving screw piles substantially as described and
illustrated.