AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR USE AS A PILE DRIVER
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Gardner, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and
Company, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents, for the
Invention of AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR USE AS A PILE DRIVER." Com-
municated from abroad by Gustave Lacour, of Rue des Halles, Paris, France.
Sealed the 6th July 1877, and dated the 6th January 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Gardner at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th January 1877.
"
HENRY GARDNER, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of 166, Fleet
Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents. AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR USE
AS A PILE DRIVER." (Communicated from abroad by Gustave Lacour, of Rue des
Halles, Paris, France).
This pile driver is composed of a cylinder closed at one end, the top, except that
it has one or more orifices, according to its diameter. In the bottom of this cylinder
forming the rammer or pile driver a single orifice is made, within which is a rod
having at the upper end an ordinary piston or guide plate. The covering is
furnished with a steam-distributor apparatus for closing and opening the orifices
which give access to the top of the piston.
In action the pile driver is placed upon a pile, and steam is introduced by the
proper orifice. The steam acts between the cylinder and the piston to separate
them one from the other, and since the piston has its point of support upon the pile
and cannot descend it follows that all the force of the steam acts upon the cylinder
which rises till it occupies the desired position, leaving between the pile and the
base of the pile driver a distance equal to the course of the said driver.
Upon withdrawing the steam by the escapeinent orifice, the driver finding no
resistance falls with all its weight upon the pile, producing the shock necessary to"
drive the said pile into the earth. The pile driver has no other support than the

page_text: pile, and works on the rod which guides and serves to steady it in its up-and-down
stroke. The first shock having been produced the steam is again introduced
between the piston and the covering, and the operation is repeated as often as
required.
In particular cases where it is desired to lessen the shock the escape valve is
opened before the driver has reached the top of its course.
The essential feature of the Invention is the arrangement of the cylinder as a
hammer, the piston rod taking its point of support upon the pile or body to be
driven.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Gardner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th July
1877.
HENRY GARDNER, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of 166, Fleet
Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents. " AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
USE AS A PILE DRIVER." (Communicated from abroad by Gustave Lacour, of Rue
des Halles, Paris, France.)
This apparatus as a pile driver is composed of a cylinder closed at one end, the top,
except that it has one or more orifices, according to its diameter. In the bottom of
this cylinder forming the rammer or pile driver a single orifice is made, within
which is a rod having at the upper end an ordinary piston which acts also as a
guide. The cylinder is furnished with a steam distributor apparatus for closing
and opening the orifices which give access to the top of the piston.
To enable this simple apparatus to be thoroughly understood, I proceed to describe
it with reference to the annexed Drawing. A is the driver or rammer head; and
B, the cylinder as part thereof, or to which the rammer is affixed. This cylinder
can be of any depth or length, and of a weight determined by the desired blow to
be given on the top of a pile to be driven. C is the piston; and D, the piston rod
encircled by the rammer to assist in guiding it up and down.
I proceed to describe the working of the apparatus:-The pile driver A is placed
upon a pile P, and steam is introduced by the orifice E. The steam acts between
the cylinder and the piston to separate them one from the other, and since the
piston C by its rod D has its point of support upon the pile and cannot descend, it
follows that all the force of the steam acts upon the cylinder, which rises till it
occupies the desired height, or as shown in dotted lines, leaving between the pile
and the base of the pile driver a distance equal to the course of the said driver.
Upon shutting off the supply of steam and by opening the escape orifice or valve,
the driver finding no resistance falls with all its weight upon the pile, producing
the shock necessary to drive the said pile into the earth. The pile driver A has no
other support than the pile P, and works on the rod D and piston C which guide
and serve to steady the rammer in its up-and-down strokes, the apparatus following
the pile as it is driven into the earth. The first shock having been produced the
steam is again introduced between the piston and the cylinder, and the operation is
repeated as often as required.
In particular cases where it is desired to lessen the shock the escape valve is
opened before the driver has reached the top of its course.
The essential feature of this Invention is the arrangement of the cylinder as a
rammer or driver, the piston rod taking its point of support upon the pile or body
to be driven.
I have referred to steam as the motive agent employed, but compressed air or
other agent suitable for the purpose can be used instead if desired.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner

page_text: the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim, the automatic pile driver or
apparatus above described, and substantially as shown in the annexed Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Gardner, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixth day of July, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
seven.
H. GARDNER. (LS.)