Patent ID: 7056066

Claim:
A sheet pile installation apparatus for inserting a sheet pile vertically into a soil formation, comprising: an elongated body of uniform cross-section along its length, said body having an upper end, a lower end, a lower edge, a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one aperture formed at said lower end; a clamp assembly disposed on said upper end including: a clamp bracket disposed on said top surface, a clamp pivotally mounted to said bracket, said clamp including a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being configured to engage a top end of the sheet pile; and a spring mounted to said clamp bracket and said distal end such that said proximal end is urged inwardly toward said top surface when said spring is in an at-rest position; a catch including a first portion and a second portion, separated by a pivot axis, said catch being pivotally mounted in said aperture about said pivot axis such that said first portion and said second portion are disposed on opposed sides of said body when said catch is in an at-rest position, and wherein said first portion is configured such that insertion of said body into the soil formation rotates said first portion upwardly such that said first portion engages a lower end of the sheet pile disposed adjacent the top surface of the body.