Rope-suspended leader mast

Abstract

A rope-suspended leader mast includes a lower part for accommodating a material to be pile-driven and an upper part for accommodating a diesel pile driver having a fuel feed. The leader mast is provided with at least one securing rope. A fuel feed interrupter interrupts the fuel feed of the diesel pile driver accommodated by the rope-suspended leader mast when the securing rope is tensioned.

Claims

1. A rope-suspended leader mast comprising: (a) a lower part for accommodating a material to be pile-driven; (b) an upper part for accommodating a diesel pile driver having a fuel feed, the upper part comprising a lattice framework; (c) at least one securing rope; and (d) a fuel feed interrupter for interrupting the fuel feed, the fuel feed interrupter being configured such that tensioning of the at least one securing rope causes the fuel feed interrupter to interrupt the fuel feed; wherein the fuel feed interrupter comprises a movable lever that interacts with an interrupter module introduceable into the fuel feed of the diesel pile driver and that is connected with the at least one securing rope in such a manner that a position of the lever is changeable by tensioning the at least one securing rope, thereby bringing about activation of the interrupter module to interrupt the fuel feed of the diesel pile driver; wherein the fuel feed interrupter is connected to the upper part and is disposed above the upper part; and wherein the at least one securing rope is above the upper part and is connected to the fuel feed interrupter above the upper part.

2. The rope-suspended leader mast according to claim 1, wherein the lever is mounted so as to pivot about a pivot axis and is connected with the at least one securing rope at a distance from the pivot axis, wherein the lever, at the distance from the pivot axis, rests on a manipulator of the interrupter module, at least temporarily, wherein the manipulator brings about an interruption of the fuel feed when the position of the lever changes.

3. The rope-suspended leader mast according to claim 2, wherein the manipulator is formed by an electrical contact, a mechanical actuator, or a hydraulic actuator, for activating the interrupter module.

4. The rope-suspended leader mast according to claim 1, further comprising a spring element biasing the lever toward a basic position, wherein the at least one securing rope is not tensed and the fuel feed is not interrupted when the lever is in the basic position.

5. The rope-suspended leader mast according to claim 1, wherein the interrupter module comprises a valve body for interrupting the fuel feed of the diesel pile driver.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

(2) In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements through the several views:

(3) FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a rope-suspended leader mast; and

(4) FIG. 2 is a side view of the rope-suspended leader mast from FIG. 1, rotated by 90.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(5) The rope-suspended leader mast 1 selected as an exemplary embodiment, for accommodating a diesel pile drivernot shownessentially consists of a lower leader mast part 2 that can be set onto the material to be pile-driven, and an upper leader mast part 3, which is essentially configured in the form of a lattice framework. This lattice framework, structured to be rectangular in cross-section, has four guide tubesnot shownat its corners, on the inside, on which tubes the diesel pile driver to be accommodated is guided so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction, by way of guide arms.

(6) At its end that lies opposite the lower leader mast part 2, two tabs 31 are disposed on the upper leader mast part 3, on which tabs a lever 4 is mounted to as to pivot, in each instance. In the region of their pivotable mounting, the levers 4 are each connected with a piston 5, which is guided in a housing 6 and biased by means of a pressure spring.

(7) With their free end, the levers 4 are pressed, by way of the biased piston 5, against a contact switch 8 that is disposed at a distance from the axis of rotation of the respective lever 4. A securing rope 7 is attached at the free end of the lever 4, in each instance, which rope is connected with the boom of a crane at its other end, for securing purposes.

(8) The contact switch 8 is connected with a solenoid valve disposed in the fuel feed of the diesel pile drivernot shownthat is to be accommodated, in such a manner that when the lever 4 makes contact with the contact switch 8, the flow of fuel is guaranteed, and when the lever 4 is removed from the contact switch 8, the feed of fuel is interrupted.

(9) In FIG. 1, the securing rope 7 is shown in the normal operating position, as a slack rope with the lever 4 resting on the contact switch 8 in the horizontal position, and indicated with a broken line and the reference numeral 7, in the tensed state, with a vertical position of the lever 4 indicated with the reference numeral 4.

(10) During a pile-driving process, a material to be pile-driven is accommodated by the lower leader mast part, which material is driven into the ground by a diesel pile driver disposed in the rope-suspended leader mast 1. In this connection, the securing rope 7 is allowed to follow as a slack rope. The lever 4 is biased against the contact switch 8 by way of the piston 5. In the event that the material to be pile-driven and the rope-suspended leader mast 1 experience an unforeseen advancing movement because of a sudden change in the ground, and the securing rope is not allowed to follow sufficiently, the rope comes under tension, thereby causing the lever 4 to be pivoted counter to the tension of the pressure spring disposed in the housing 6, thereby interrupting the contact between lever 4 and contact switch 8.

(11) As a result, the solenoid valve connected with the contact switch 8 and disposed within the fuel feed of the diesel pile driver is closed, thereby interrupting the fuel feed of the diesel pile driver. As a result, the pile-driving process is stopped immediately. Possible impairment of the crane boom connected with the securing rope 7 is thereby effectively prevented.

(12) If the securing rope is now allowed to follow, the lever 4 is brought back into its original position by way of the piston 5, which biases the pressure spring, thereby activating the contact switch 8 once again. As a result, the solenoid valve is opened again, thereby causing the fuel feed to be open. The diesel pile driver can thereby be put into operation again immediately.

(13) Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.