IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR DRIVING PILES BY MEANS OF EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCES.
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Woodcroft Hammond, of 27, Southampton
Buildings; Ohancery Lane; in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND
APPARATUS FOR DRIVING PILES BY MEANS OF EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCES.". _A
communication from abroad by Philip Syng Justice, of the City
and County of Philadelphia; in the State of Pennyslvania, United
States of Americă.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Aled by the said Henry Woodcroft
Hammond at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition and Declaration, on the 18th August 1878, pursuant
to the 9th Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME; I, HENRY
WOODCROFT HAMMOND, of 27, Southampton Buildings, Ohancery Lane,
in the Count of Middlesex. Oftil Engineer, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR DRIVING PILES BY MEANS OF EXPLOSIVE
SUBSTANCES," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the
same, and have made solemn Declaration that the same is a com- 5
munication to me from abroad by Philip Syng Justice, of the City and
County of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, United States of
America

page_text: fitted into the lower end, which, by means of the expansion ring or
obturation O, is made to fit air-tight into the cylindrical chamber K,
while on its upper end there is a cylindrical chamber O¹ of the same
diameter as the piston head R, which piston head serves as a buffer when
forced by any overcharge of explosive material into said cylinder O¹. In
the body of the said hammer or monkey H is cast a V groove W (which
may be either at the back or on the side), and into which the friction
rod T is made to fit in such a manner as to act as a brake, the said
friction rod being held in position by means of the toggle joints or
pivotted arms F which are securely bolted to the cast- or wrought-iron
braces B, and which toggle joints or pivotted arms permit of the brake
being thrown in or out of gear or action by means of the lever Land
sector U attached to the lower end of one of the uprights A. On top of
said uprights A, A, is a cast-iron head piece X on which is bolted a
grooved pulley Y for the purpose of hoisting the piles into place, the:
whole construction resting on the platform Z. The mode of operation is
as follows: The pile to be driven is supposed to be in place when the
anvil or mortar M. is lowered (by means of a rope or chain over the
pulley Y), in such a manner that the recess E covers the head of the pile,
the hammer or monkey H is then raised (by the aforesaid means) some
8 to 12 feet above the anvil or mortar M, where it is held suspended by
means of the friction rod or brake T. The operator then throws one or
more charges of explosive material into the cylindrical chamber K, when
the man in charge of the lever L raises the friction rod T, thus freeing
the hammer or monkey M which in its descent presses its plunger Jinto
the cylindrical chamber K, and by compressing the air contained therein
explodes the charge, which explosion not only forces down the pile but
throws up the hammer or monkey H to its former position, where it is
again held suspended by the friction rod T until the operation above
described is repeated.

page_text: And, Secondly. the employment of a friction rod or brake in com-
bination with toggle or swivel joints when operating as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Woodcroft Hammond, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of August, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.
HENRY WOODOROFT HAMMOND. (L.S.)