VIBRATION RAM

Abstract

A vibration-ram arrangement for introducing a material to be rammed into a ground may include a hydraulic apparatus for generating hydraulic pressure. The hydraulic apparatus may include an internal-combustion motor and a hydraulic pump that is drivable by the internal-combustion motor. The arrangement may further include an exciter arrangement, which is configured to be spatially separate from the hydraulic apparatus and which by way of a hydraulic line is connected to the hydraulic apparatus. The exciter arrangement may have a hydraulic motor and a rotatably mounted unbalanced mass. For driving the unbalanced mass, hydraulic liquid may be guided in a circuit comprising the hydraulic apparatus, the hydraulic line, and the hydraulic motor. The unbalanced mass is drivable by the hydraulic motor to generate vibration movements of the exciter arrangement. The arrangement may also include a support device on which the hydraulic apparatus and the exciter arrangement are disposed. The present disclosure also relates to methods for operating vibration-ram arrangements and to component sets for assembling such vibration-ram arrangements.”

Claims

1.-13. (canceled)

14. A vibration-ram arrangement for introducing a material to be rammed into a ground, wherein the vibration-ram arrangement comprises: a hydraulic apparatus for generating a hydraulic pressure, wherein the hydraulic apparatus comprises an internal-combustion engine and a hydraulic pump that is drivable by the internal-combustion engine; an exciter arrangement that is configured to be spatially separate from the hydraulic apparatus and is connected to the hydraulic apparatus by a hydraulic line, wherein the exciter arrangement includes a hydraulic motor and a rotatably mounted unbalanced mass, wherein hydraulic fluid is guided in a circuit that comprises the hydraulic apparatus, the hydraulic line, and the hydraulic motor, wherein the rotatably mounted unbalanced mass is drivable by the hydraulic motor to generate vibration movements of the exciter arrangement; and a support device on which the hydraulic apparatus and the exciter arrangement are disposed.

15. The vibration-ram arrangement of claim 14 wherein the support device comprises: a first support element on which the exciter arrangement is disposed; and a second support element on which the hydraulic apparatus is disposed, wherein the second support element is coupled to the first support element by way of a spring element.

16. The vibration-ram arrangement of claim 15 wherein the support device further comprises a third support element for receiving a second hydraulic apparatus, wherein the third support element is connected to the second support element.

17. The vibration-ram arrangement of claim 16 wherein the third support element is rigidly connected to the second support element.

18. The vibration-ram arrangement of claim 15 wherein the support device comprises fastening means for releasably fastening at least one of a hydraulic apparatus or an exciter arrangement.

19. The vibration-ram arrangement of claim 15 wherein the first support element comprises a first platform and/or the second support element comprises a second platform.

20. The vibration-ram arrangement of claim 15 further comprising a fastening device disposed on the first support element, the fastening device for connecting the first support element to the material to be rammed.

21. The vibration-ram arrangement of claim 20 wherein the fastening device is a first fastening device and the vibration-ram arrangement further comprises a second fastening device, wherein the first and second fastening devices are configured as chucks for receiving a pipe end and are disposed on a receptacle face of the first support element that receives the material to be rammed.

22. The vibration-ram arrangement of claim 21 wherein the chucks are hydraulically operated chucks.

23. The vibration-ram arrangement of claim 21 wherein the pipe end that the chucks are configured to receive has a circular cross section.

24. The vibration-ram arrangement of claim 21 wherein the first and second fastening devices are disposed on the receptacle face of the first support element along a circular circumference.

25. A method for operating a vibration-ram arrangement comprising: providing a vibration-ram arrangement; fastening a material to be rammed to the vibration-ram arrangement by way of a fastening device that is disposed on a receptacle face of the vibration-ram arrangement; operating a hydraulic motor of an exciter arrangement of the vibration-ram arrangement by way of a hydraulic apparatus disposed on the vibration-ram arrangement; and positioning the vibration-ram arrangement by way of a single equipment carrier.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein at least one of the exciter arrangement is disposed on a first support element of a support device of the vibration-ram arrangement, or the hydraulic apparatus is disposed on a second support element of the support device.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the hydraulic apparatus is a first hydraulic apparatus, wherein a third support element for receiving a second hydraulic apparatus is connected to the second support element.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein the hydraulic apparatus is a first hydraulic apparatus, wherein a third support element for receiving a second hydraulic apparatus is rigidly connected to the second support element.

29. A component set for assembling a vibration-ram arrangement, the component set comprising: a first support element for receiving an exciter arrangement; a second support element for receiving a first hydraulic apparatus, wherein the second support element can be coupled to the first support element by way of a spring element; and a third support element that is connectable to the second support element, the third support element for receiving a second hydraulic apparatus.

30. The component set of claim 29 wherein the second support element can be coupled to the first support element by way of the spring element and a damper element.

31. The component set of claim 29 wherein the third support element is rigidly connectable to the second support element.

Description

[0063] In the figures hereunder:

[0064] FIG. 1 shows an in-principle diagram of a design embodiment of the vibration-ram arrangement in a perspective view;

[0065] FIG. 2 shows an in-principle diagram of the design embodiment of the vibration-ram arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1, in a side view;

[0066] FIG. 3 shows an in-principle diagram of a further design embodiment of the vibration-ram arrangement, in a side view.

[0067] A design embodiment of a vibration-ram arrangement 1 can be derived from FIG. 1. The vibration-ram arrangement 1 comprises a support device which has a first support element 9 and a second support element 10. The first support element 9 is configured as a first platform, wherein the first platform is configured as a circular platform. The second support element 10 is configured as a second platform which in the design embodiment shown is likewise configured as a circular plate. The second platform by way of springs 11 and damper elements 12 is coupled to the first platform, so as to guarantee decoupling of the second platform in terms of oscillation in the case of sufficiently high oscillation frequencies of the first platform. The oscillation frequencies have to be sufficiently remote from the natural frequency of the overall arrangement, so as to avoid an uncontrollable state of oscillation being attained. Two exciter arrangements 6a, 6b which in the design embodiment shown are configured as exciter cells which are fastened to that face of the first platform that faces away from that side of the first platform that is provided for receiving the material to be rammed are disposed on the first platform. Fastening devices 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, 13e, 13f, 13g, and 13h, which are configured as hydraulically operated chucks, are fastened to the face of the first platform that is provided for receiving the material to be rammed. The fastening devices 13a and 13b are not depicted by virtue of the perspective illustration. Two hydraulic apparatuses 2a, 2b are disposed on the second platform, wherein the hydraulic apparatuses are fastened to a face of the second platform that faces away from the exciter arrangements 6a, 6b. Furthermore, suspension points, from which fastening cables 14 that converge in a common fastening point 15 which is provided for fastening the vibration-ram arrangement 1 on a fastening hook of an equipment carrier (not shown in the illustration of FIG. 1) emanate, are disposed on the second platform.

[0068] In addition to the features that have already been illustrated in FIG. 1, the design embodiment of the hydraulic apparatuses used based on the example of the hydraulic apparatus 2a can be derived from the side view illustrated in FIG. 2. The hydraulic apparatus 2a has a hydraulic pump 4a which is drivable by way of the internal combustion engine 3a. The exciter arrangement 6a is connected to the hydraulic apparatus 2a by way of a hydraulic hose 5a, while the exciter arrangement 6b is connected to the hydraulic apparatus 2b by way of a hydraulic hose 5b. The hydraulic motor which in the design embodiment illustrated and in the perspective shown is disposed behind the unbalanced mass and thus cannot be derived from FIG. 2, is operated by way of the hydraulically circulating liquid situated in the hydraulic circuit. The hydraulic motor drives the unbalanced masses of the exciter cell 6a. For reasons of improved clarity, the further lines that complete the hydraulic circuits are not illustrated in FIG. 2. The exciter cell 6a in the design embodiment shown has two unbalanced masses, wherein only one of the two unbalanced masses, specifically the unbalanced mass 7a, can be derived from FIG. 2. The second unbalanced mass is located on that side that is opposite the unbalanced mass 7a, and is therefore not visible in FIG. 2. In order for a directed vibration to be generated, the two unbalanced masses are typically operated in opposite directions.

[0069] A further design embodiment of a vibration-ram arrangement in the side view can be derived from FIG. 3. In addition to the features that could already be derived from FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, FIG. 3 has a third support element 16 which is configured as a third platform, likewise having a circular surface. Two additional hydraulic apparatuses 2c and 2d are disposed on the third platform 16, wherein the hydraulic apparatus 2c by way of a hydraulic line 5c supplies a third exciter cell which in the perspective view lies behind the first exciter cell 6a, the hydraulic apparatus 2d by way of a hydraulic line 5d supplying a fourth exciter cell which in the perspective view lies behind the second exciter cell 6b. The third platform is rigidly connected to the second platform by means of rigid connection elements 17 such that the arrangement of the second platform, of the third platform, and of the hydraulic apparatuses that are connected thereto, in terms of oscillation mechanics behave like a single body, or at least almost like a single body, respectively.