Drive Head for Foundation Support System

Abstract

A foundation support driving apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a drive head which may be coupled to a hydraulic ram assembly for driving a foundation support. The drive head has sleeve plates that form a sleeve through which the foundation support may travel. The sleeve plates also form a pair of opposed yokes. The drive had has a pair of opposed rotating plates that rotate about respective pins positioned in opposed yokes. Gripping portions disposed at the inward ends of the rotating plates are adapted to engage the exterior surface of a foundation support extending through the sleeve. The hydraulic ram assembly rotates the rotating plates back and forth to move the gripping portions into and out of engagement with the foundation support in order to move the foundation support.

1 . An apparatus for installing a foundation support, the apparatus comprising:
 a sleeve assembly having a sleeve adapted to receive and guide the foundation support,   a first rotating plate rotatably coupled to the sleeve assembly about a pivot point, the first rotating plate having a first end and a second end, the pivot point located between the first and second ends of the first plate, the first end of the first rotating plate being proximal the sleeve,   the first end adapted to engage an outer surface of the foundation support,   wherein the first rotating plate is operable to be rotated about the pivot point in a first rotation direction to engage the first end of the first rotating plate with the surface of the foundation support,   wherein the first end of the first rotating plate is adapted to impart movement of the foundation support in response to movement of the apparatus when the first end of the first rotating plate is engaged with the surface of the foundation support.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first end comprises a gripping portion adapted to engage a surface of the foundation support. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the gripping portion is coupled to the first end. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the gripping portion is integrally formed with the first end. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the gripping portion has a concave surface to interact with a convex surface of the foundation support. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the gripping portion has a distal surface that matches an outer surface of the foundation support. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein an engagement surface of the gripping portion has a plurality of protrusions adapted to engage a surface of the foundation support when the gripping portion is forced against the foundation support. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second rotating plate rotatably coupled to the sleeve assembly and operable to be rotated about a pivot point in a first rotation direction to engage a first end of the second rotating plate with the surface of the foundation support. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second rotating plates are adapted to cooperate to impart opposed pressure against the surface of the foundation support. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an arm coupled to the first rotating plate, wherein movement of the arm imparts rotation to the first rotating plate. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the arm is hydraulically actuated. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the arm moves in a substantially linear direction corresponding to the direction of driving the support. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the arm is adapted to be moved in a first direction to rotate the first rotating plate to engage the first end with the surface of foundation support, and where additional movement of the arm in the first direction moves the entire rotating plate in the first direction thereby imparting movement of the foundation support in the first direction. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein movement of the arm in a first direction rotates the first rotating plate into an engagement position and movement of the arm in a second direction rotates the first rotating plate into a disengagement position. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for installing a foundation support, the apparatus comprising:
 a sleeve assembly having a sleeve adapted to receive and guide the foundation support,   a first rotating plate rotatably coupled to the sleeve assembly and having a first end adapted to engage an outer surface of the foundation support when the first rotating plate is rotated in a first direction.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first rotating plate is adapted to be rotated in a first direction into an engagement position and in a second direction into a disengagement position. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a second rotating plate rotatably coupled to the sleeve assembly and having a first end adapted to engage the outer surface of the foundation support. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second rotating plates are adapted to be rotated in opposed directions to engage the first ends of the respective first and second rotating plates with a surface of the foundation support. 
     
     
         19 . A method of driving a foundation support comprising:
 disposing the foundation support within a sleeve of a drive head wherein the drive head is positioned at a first point relative to the foundation support, the drive head having at least one rotating plate adapted to be rotated in a first direction to force an end of the at least one rotating plate against a surface of the foundation support to grip the foundation support;   rotating the at least one rotating plate in a first direction to impart engagement of the rotating plate with the foundation support;   moving the drive head in a first direction to drive the foundation support into strata; and   rotating the at least one rotating plate in a second direction to disengage the rotating plate from the surface of the foundation support.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of moving the drive head in a second direction to position the drive head at a second relative to the foundation support.