Apparatus and methods for the installation of pipe pilings into the ground for use as structural building foundations, geothermal piles, or both, are disclosed. In addition to specialized fittings for pipe pile assemblies, the inventions include specialized drive mechanisms used in conjunction with rotary or vibratory motors. Methods of installing pipe pilings are further improved with the disclosure of methods of adding grout or similar materials during or after installation of the piles.

Apparatus and methods for the installation of pipe pilings into the ground for use as structural building foundations, geothermal piles, or both, are disclosed. In addition to specialized fittings for pipe pile assemblies, the inventions include specialized drive mechanisms used in conjunction with rotary or vibratory motors. Methods of installing pipe pilings are further improved with the disclosure of methods of adding grout or similar materials during or after installation of the piles.

Apparatus and methods for the installation of pipe pilings into the ground for use as structural building foundations, geothermal piles, or both, are disclosed. In addition to specialized fittings for pipe pile assemblies, the inventions include specialized drive mechanisms used in conjunction with rotary or vibratory motors. Methods of installing pipe pilings are further improved with the disclosure of methods of adding grout or similar materials during or after installation of the piles.

The present invention relates to a device for pushing four piles into the ground or into a seabed in a square configuration or in a diamond configuration, the device comprising: a bridge assembly which defines a first, second, third and fourth connecting location arranged in a square or diamond configuration, four connection assemblies via which in use each of the four piles is connected to the bridge assembly, wherein each pile connection assembly comprises: an actuator comprising an upper actuator part and a lower actuator part, wherein the actuator is configured to extend, a pile connector connected to the lower actuator part, a control device configured for alternately letting each of the actuators extend, and configured for letting the pile which is pushed into the ground or seabed receive a greater force than the opposite pile of the square or diamond configuration, wherein the exerted push force is transferred into the bridge assembly and transferred at least partially from the bridge assembly as a tension force and a bending moment into the two adjoining piles via the two adjoining pile connection assemblies.

The present invention relates to a device for pushing four piles into the ground or into a seabed in a square configuration or in a diamond configuration, the device comprising: a bridge assembly which defines a first, second, third and fourth connecting location arranged in a square or diamond configuration, four connection assemblies via which in use each of the four piles is connected to the bridge assembly, wherein each pile connection assembly comprises: an actuator comprising an upper actuator part and a lower actuator part, wherein the actuator is configured to extend, a pile connector connected to the lower actuator part, a control device configured for alternately letting each of the actuators extend, and configured for letting the pile which is pushed into the ground or seabed receive a greater force than the opposite pile of the square or diamond configuration, wherein the exerted push force is transferred into the bridge assembly and transferred at least partially from the bridge assembly as a tension force and a bending moment into the two adjoining piles via the two adjoining pile connection assemblies.

A pile press-in construction method uses a pile press-in device having a saddle, a clamp device grasping a top of an existing pile, a mast, a raising and lowering device, and a chuck device supported by the mast and holding a pile. The pile press-in device generates a reaction force by griping the existing pile with the clamp device, holds the pile by the chuck device, presses the pile into the ground by the raising and lowering device, and successively presses piles in while moving on a pile row including the existing pile to thereby extend the pile row. By turning of the mast and tilting of the chuck device about a chuck tilting axis, the chuck device is laid sideways and projects outward to a side of the pile row, the pile is supplied and inserted into the chuck device, and the chuck device grasps the pile.

Dampening assemblies for crane systems and the like. In some embodiments, the assembly may comprise an upper connecting member and a lower connecting member. A first housing portion may be coupled to the upper connecting member and a second housing portion may be coupled to the lower connecting member. The assembly may further comprise opposing shock absorbing members removably connected between the first housing portion and the second housing portion. The opposing elastomer shock absorbing members may be configured to shear under the weight to move the first housing portion relative to the second housing portion to reduce vibration during operation.

Dampening assemblies for crane systems and the like. In some embodiments, the assembly may comprise an upper connecting member and a lower connecting member. A first housing portion may be coupled to the upper connecting member and a second housing portion may be coupled to the lower connecting member. The assembly may further comprise opposing shock absorbing members removably connected between the first housing portion and the second housing portion. The opposing elastomer shock absorbing members may be configured to shear under the weight to move the first housing portion relative to the second housing portion to reduce vibration during operation.

A wick drain shoe is configured to be connected to a free end of a length of wick drain material and driven by a mandrel of a wick drain insertion system. The wick drain shoe comprises a base portion and an extension portion secured to the base portion to define first and second shoe openings, an anchor portion, and a bearing portion. The wick drain material is connected to the wick drain shoe by inserting the free end through the first and second shoe openings such that the anchor portion and bearing portion engage the wick drain material when the wick drain material is under tension. The base portion is sized and dimensioned to engage the mandrel such that displacement of the mandrel in a first direction causes displacement of the wick drain shoe in the first direction.

A wick drain shoe is configured to be connected to a free end of a length of wick drain material and driven by a mandrel of a wick drain insertion system. The wick drain shoe comprises a base portion and an extension portion secured to the base portion to define first and second shoe openings, an anchor portion, and a bearing portion. The wick drain material is connected to the wick drain shoe by inserting the free end through the first and second shoe openings such that the anchor portion and bearing portion engage the wick drain material when the wick drain material is under tension. The base portion is sized and dimensioned to engage the mandrel such that displacement of the mandrel in a first direction causes displacement of the wick drain shoe in the first direction.