Patent ID: 7914237

Claim:
Apparatus for assisting the insertion of a sheet pile to a desired depth within an earth formation having soils highly resistant to penetration, comprising: an outer protective housing of a shape generally similar to a shape of the sheet pile and adapted to be positioned in a vertical position adjacent one side of said sheet pile for releasable connection to said sheet pile; said protective housing extending vertically above said sheet pile and having a generally horizontally extending force exerting member adapted to extend over an upper end of said sheet pile for contacting the upper end of said pile in a driving relation; and said protective housing extending vertically below said sheet pile; and means on a lower end of said housing below said sheet pile for releasably engaging a lower end of said sheet pile for lifting of said pile and permitting removal of said protective housing from the earth formation and said sheet pile after insertion of said sheet pile; force exerting member attached to said housing for exerting a downwardly directed driving force against said protective housing and thence against the upper end of said sheet pile through said force exerting member for insertion of said sheet pile within the earth formation; a fluid gallery having a fluid source or a connector to a fluid source; at least two fluid conduits connected to said fluid gallery and extending approximately a length of said sheet pile or said housing, each said conduit having at least one orifice positioned such that fluid exits each said conduit onto said sheet pile without jetting into the soil; wherein said fluid conduits can accommodate fluids having pressure of up to about 100 psi; and wherein said fluid source or said connector to said fluid source is controllable such that fluid flow into the fluid gallery, through the conduits, and onto the sheet pile, has a pressure of less than about 100 psi, and is started upon initial insertion of the sheet pile into the resistant soils and said fluid flow continues until the pile reaches the desired depth and the protective housing is removed.