A pile-driver assembly for driving a pile into the ground, preferably off- shore, and a method of driving a pile into the ground using the pile-driver assembly is dis- closed. The assembly includes a casing defining a chamber, the chamber being configured to house a fluid, the chamber comprising a channel extending at least partially therethrough. The assembly further includes a positioning element configured to position the casing at or on the pile, wherein at least a portion of the positioning element is positioned between the chamber and the pile, wherein the positioning element comprises a guide element, configured to extend at least partially through the channel of the chamber. The assembly further includes actuating means, wherein actuation of the actuating means displaces the chamber relative to the positioning element, such that the chamber moves away from the pile, and wherein the actuating means is configured to release the chamber for displacement towards the pile such that a force is exerted by the chamber on the positioning member, to controllably drive the pile into the ground.

A locking dog assembly including a body including inner cavity with a lower opening, a first locking dog at least partially extending through a first side of the body and displaceable into and out of the inner cavity, a second locking dog at least partially extending through a second side of the body, opposite the first side, and displaceable into and out of the inner cavity, and a mechanism for simultaneous displacement of the first and second locking dogs with mechanical advantage.

The invention relates to an arrangement for supporting a thin-walled steel pile (5; 17; 26; 35) in an impact pile driving device, the arrangement comprising a supporting surface (4; 14; 23; 31), to which the steel pile (5; 17; 26; 35) can be supported, and in which arrangement the supporting surface (4; 14; 23; 31) is provided with one or more absorbing surfaces (6; 16; 25; 33) to be placed against the end of the wall (8; 18, 26; 36) of the steel pile (5; 17; 26; 35). In the arrangement according to the invention, the absorbing surface (6; 16; 25; 33) is configured to shape the end of the wall (8; 18; 27; 36) of the steel pile (5; 17, 26; 35) coming against the absorbing surface (6; 16; 25; 33), by the effect of the impact driving of the steel pile (5; 17; 26; 35), so that at least the part of the wall (8; 18; 27; 36) at the absorbing surface (6; 16; 25; 33) of the wall (8; 18; 27; 36) is shaped against the absorbing surface (6; 16; 25; 33), wherein the movement of the wall (8; 18; 27; 36) in the direction of a plane transverse to the direction of impact driving of the steel pile is prevented, at least at the head of the steel pile (5; 17; 26; 35). Also, the absorbing surface (6; 16; 25; 33) in the supporting surface (4, 14; 23; 31) can be configured to be shaped by the effect of the impact driving of the steel pile (5; 17, 26, 35) so that the absorbing surface (6; 16; 25; 33) is shaped against the part of the wall (8; 18, 27; 36) of the steel pile (5; 17; 26; 35) at the absorbing surface (6; 16; 25; 33), whereby the movement of the wall (8; 18; 27; 36) at the head of the steel pile (5; 17; 26; 35) is prevented. The invention also relates to a method for arranging the support of a steel pile (5; 17; 26; 35) in an impact pile driving device.

The invention relates to an arrangement for supporting a thin-walled steel pile (5; 17; 26; 35) in an impact pile driving device, the arrangement comprising a supporting surface (4; 14; 23; 31), to which the steel pile (5; 17; 26; 35) can be supported, and in which arrangement the supporting surface (4; 14; 23; 31) is provided with one or more absorbing surfaces (6; 16; 25; 33) to be placed against the end of the wall (8; 18, 26; 36) of the steel pile (5; 17; 26; 35). In the arrangement according to the invention, the absorbing surface (6; 16; 25; 33) is configured to shape the end of the wall (8; 18; 27; 36) of the steel pile (5; 17, 26; 35) coming against the absorbing surface (6; 16; 25; 33), by the effect of the impact driving of the steel pile (5; 17; 26; 35), so that at least the part of the wall (8; 18; 27; 36) at the absorbing surface (6; 16; 25; 33) of the wall (8; 18; 27; 36) is shaped against the absorbing surface (6; 16; 25; 33), wherein the movement of the wall (8; 18; 27; 36) in the direction of a plane transverse to the direction of impact driving of the steel pile is prevented, at least at the head of the steel pile (5; 17; 26; 35). Also, the absorbing surface (6; 16; 25; 33) in the supporting surface (4, 14; 23; 31) can be configured to be shaped by the effect of the impact driving of the steel pile (5; 17, 26, 35) so that the absorbing surface (6; 16; 25; 33) is shaped against the part of the wall (8; 18, 27; 36) of the steel pile (5; 17; 26; 35) at the absorbing surface (6; 16; 25; 33), whereby the movement of the wall (8; 18; 27; 36) at the head of the steel pile (5; 17; 26; 35) is prevented. The invention also relates to a method for arranging the support of a steel pile (5; 17; 26; 35) in an impact pile driving device.

A pile driving rig lower cushion made of material having elasticity modulus of 500-3500 Mpa. The lower cushion comprises two end surfaces and at least one side surface. The first end surface is to be placed against the drive cap of the pile driving rig. The second end surface is to be placed against the end of a pile. The lower cushion has at least one flexible section at the side surface that is more flexible than remaining sections of the side surface in at least one direction. The dimensions of the lower cushion are such that the lower cushion fits snugly into the drive cap housing only when the flexible area is compressed. The lower cushion remains in its place within the drive cap housing due to compressive force caused by the at least one flexible section and friction forces resulting therefrom.

A pile driving rig lower cushion made of material having elasticity modulus of 500-3500 Mpa. The lower cushion comprises two end surfaces and at least one side surface. The first end surface is to be placed against the drive cap of the pile driving rig. The second end surface is to be placed against the end of a pile. The lower cushion has at least one flexible section at the side surface that is more flexible than remaining sections of the side surface in at least one direction. The dimensions of the lower cushion are such that the lower cushion fits snugly into the drive cap housing only when the flexible area is compressed. The lower cushion remains in its place within the drive cap housing due to compressive force caused by the at least one flexible section and friction forces resulting therefrom.

A lead for installing a pile into a seabed floor comprising: an elongated body extending longitudinally along a first axis in a first direction from a top end to a bottom end and configured to receive a pile oriented in the first direction; and a lead indexing foot attached to the bottom end of the elongated body and laterally offset with regard to the first axis.

A pile-driver assembly for driving a pile into the ground is disclosed. The assembly includes a casing defining a chamber configured to house a fluid; a positioning element configured to position the casing at or on the pile; and actuating means. Actuation of the actuating means displaces the chamber relative to the positioning element such that the chamber moves away from the pile to an elevated position. The actuating means is configured to release the chamber from the elevated position for displacement towards the pile such that a force is exerted by the chamber on the positioning member, to controllably drive the pile into the ground. The assembly further includes buffering means, the buffering means being configured to controllably buffer the force exerted by the chamber on the pile as the pile is driven into the ground. The buffering means is configured to rebound the chamber to a rebound position. Further actuation of the actuating means displaces the chamber relative to the positioning element, such that the chamber moves from the rebound position to the elevated position. A control system for controlling the pile-driver assembly and a method of driving a pile into ground using the pile-driver assembly are also disclosed.

A pile-driver assembly for driving a pile into the ground, preferably offshore, and a method of driving a pile into the ground using the pile-driver assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a casing defining a chamber, the chamber being configured to house a fluid. The assembly further includes a positioning element configured to position the casing at or on the pile, wherein at least a portion of the positioning element is positioned between the chamber and the pile. The assembly further includes actuating means, wherein actuation of the actuating means displaces the chamber relative to the positioning element, such that the chamber moves away from the pile, and wherein the actuating means is configured to release the chamber for displacement towards the pile such that a force is exerted by the chamber on the positioning member, to controllably drive the pile into the ground.

A pile-driver assembly for driving a pile into the ground is disclosed. The assembly includes a casing defining a chamber configured to house a fluid; a positioning element configured to position the casing at or on the pile; and actuating means. Actuation of the actuating means displaces the chamber relative to the positioning element such that the chamber moves away from the pile to an elevated position. The actuating means is configured to release the chamber from the elevated position for displacement towards the pile such that a force is exerted by the chamber on the positioning member, to controllably drive the pile into the ground. The assembly further includes buffering means, the buffering means being configured to controllably buffer the force exerted by the chamber on the pile as the pile is driven into the ground. The buffering means is configured to rebound the chamber to a rebound position. Further actuation of the actuating means displaces the chamber relative to the positioning element, such that the chamber moves from the rebound position to the elevated position. A control system for controlling the pile-driver assembly and a method of driving a pile into ground using the pile-driver assembly are also disclosed.