Helmet adapter for pile drivers

Abstract

An adapter assembly for transmitting a drive force from a pile driving system defining a drive axis to a pile defining a pile axis comprising a base assembly and an adapter assembly. The base assembly is operatively supported such that the drive force is transmitted to the base assembly. The adapter assembly comprises a plate member, a skirt member defining a skirt chamber, and an adapter connector configured to support the skirt member relative to the base assembly, the plate member, and the pile member. The adapter assembly substantially aligns the drive axis with the pile axis. The drive force is transmitted from the base assembly to the plate member. The pile is received within the skirt chamber such that the drive force is transmitted from the plate member to the pile. The skirt member is substantially isolated from the drive force.

1 . A pile driving system for driving a pile defining a pile axis, comprising:
 a hammer for applying a drive force to a drive member along a drive axis;   a base assembly operatively supported relative to the drive member such that the drive force is transmitted to the base assembly; and   an adapter assembly comprising
 a plate member, 
 a skirt member defining a skirt chamber, and 
 an adapter connector configured to support the skirt member relative to the base assembly, the plate member, and the pile member; whereby 
   the adapter assembly substantially aligns the drive axis with the pile axis;   the drive force is transmitted from the base assembly to the plate member;   the pile is received within the skirt chamber such that the drive force is transmitted from the plate member to the pile; and   the skirt member is substantially isolated from the drive force.   
     
     
         2 . A pile driving system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one guide rail that engages the hammer, base assembly, and adapter assembly such that the drive forces are substantially directed along the drive axis. 
     
     
         3 . A pile driving system as recited in  claim 1 , in which the plate member comprises:
 a center portion;   an adapter base portion extending from the center portion, where the adapter base portion engages the base assembly; and   a skirt adapter portion extending from the center portion, where the skirt adapter portion engages the skirt member.   
     
     
         4 . A pile driving system as recited in  claim 3 , in which the skirt chamber receives the skirt adapter portion such that the drive forces are substantially directed along the drive axis. 
     
     
         5 . A pile driving system as recited in  claim 3 , in which the base assembly comprises a base member defining an adapter cavity, where the adapter cavity receives the adapter base portion such that the drive forces are substantially directed along the drive axis. 
     
     
         6 . A pile driving system as recited in  claim 1 , in which:
 the base assembly comprises a base member defining a drive cavity;   the drive cavity supports a strike plate and a hammer cushion; and   the drive member transmits the drive force to the plate member through the strike plate plate, the hammer cushion, and the base member.   
     
     
         7 . A pile driving system as recited in  claim 1 , in which:
 the base assembly comprises a base member defining a drive cavity;   the drive cavity supports a strike plate; and   the drive member transmits the drive force to the plate member through the strike plate and the base member.   
     
     
         8 . A pile driving system as recited in  claim 3 , in which the base assembly comprises a base member defining an adapter cavity and a drive cavity, wherein:
 the adapter cavity receives the adapter base portion such that the drive force is transmitted through the base member and the adapter plate substantially along the drive axis; and   the drive cavity supports a strike plate and a hammer cushion, where the drive member transmits the drive force to the plate member through the drive plate and the base member.   
     
     
         9 . A pile driving system as recited in  claim 1 , in which the hammer comprises a drive housing that supports the drive member for movement relative to the drive housing along the drive axis, the pile driving system further comprising at least one base connector for connecting the base assembly to the drive housing. 
     
     
         10 . A pile driving system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one cushion member arranged within the skirt cavity between the pile and the plate member. 
     
     
         11 . A pile driving system as recited in  claim 1 , in which the adapter connector supports the skirt member relative to the plate member such that a gap exists between an upper edge of the skirt member and a center portion of the plate member. 
     
     
         12 . A method of driving a pile defining a pile axis, comprising the steps of:
 operatively supporting a base assembly relative to a drive member;   operatively supporting a skirt member relative to a plate member, where the skirt member defines a skirt chamber;   arranging the pile within the skirt chamber such that a drive axis is substantially aligned with the pile axis;   applying a drive force to the drive member along the drive axis such that the drive force is transmitted from the drive member to the pile through the base assembly and the plate member; and   substantially isolating the skirt member from the plate member as the drive force is transmitted to the pile.   
     
     
         12 . A method as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising the step of arranging at least one guide rail relative to the drive member, the base assembly, and the plate member such that the drive forces are substantially directed along the drive axis. 
     
     
         13 . A method as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising the step of arranging a strike plate and a hammer cushion such that the drive force is transmitted from the drive member to the plate member through the strike plate and the hammer cushion. 
     
     
         14 . A method as recited in  claim 1 , in which:
 the base assembly comprises a base member defining an adapter cavity and a drive cavity;   the adapter cavity receives the adapter base portion such that the drive force is transmitted through the base member and the adapter plate substantially along the drive axis; and   the drive cavity supports a strike plate and a hammer cushion, where the drive member transmits the drive force to the plate member through the drive plate and the base member.   
     
     
         15 . A method as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising the step of arranging at least one cushion member within the skirt cavity between the pile and the plate member. 
     
     
         16 . A method as recited in  claim 12 , in which the step of substantially isolating the skirt member from the plate member comprises the step of forming a gap between an upper edge of the skirt member and a center portion of the plate member. 
     
     
         17 . An adapter assembly for transmitting a drive force from a pile is driving system defining a drive axis to a pile defining a pile axis, comprising:
 a base assembly operatively supported such that the drive force is transmitted to the base assembly; and   an adapter assembly comprising
 a plate member, 
 a skirt member defining a skirt chamber, and 
 an adapter connector configured to support the skirt member relative to the base assembly, the plate member, and the pile member; whereby 
   the adapter assembly substantially aligns the drive axis with the pile axis;   the drive force is transmitted from the base assembly to the plate member;   the pile is received within the skirt chamber such that the drive force is transmitted from the plate member to the pile; and   the skirt member is substantially isolated from the drive force.   
     
     
         18 . An adapter assembly as recited in  claim 17 , in which the plate member comprises:
 a center portion;   an adapter base portion extending from the center portion, where the adapter base portion engages the base assembly; and   a skirt adapter portion extending from the center portion, where the skirt adapter portion engages the skirt member.   
     
     
         19 . An adapter assembly as recited in  claim 18 , in which the base assembly comprises a base member defining an adapter cavity and a drive cavity, wherein:
 the adapter cavity receives the adapter base portion such that the drive force is transmitted through the base member and the adapter plate substantially along the drive axis; and   the drive cavity supports a strike plate and a hammer cushion, where the drive member transmits the drive force to the plate member through the drive plate and the base member.   
     
     
         20 . An adapter assembly as recited in  claim 18 , in which the adapter connector supports the skirt member relative to the plate member such that a gap exists between an upper edge of the skirt member and a center portion of the plate member.