Pile driver
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A pile driver or piledriver is a mechanical device used to drive piles into soil to provide foundation support for buildings or other structures.
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[edit] History
There are a number of claims to the inventor of the pile driver. Several prominent people — James Nasmyth (son of Alexander Nasmyth), watchmaker Richard Valouè, Count Giovan Battista Gazzola, and Leonardo da Vinci — have all been credited with inventing the device. However, there is evidence that a comparable device was used in the construction of Crannogs at Oakbank and Loch Tay in Scotland as early as 5000 years ago.
[edit] Physics
Pile drivers include a cylinder of iron (the driver), placed between two metal rods so that it is able to freely slide up and down. The cylinder is raised to the top via a pulley system, which may involve the use of hydraulics, steam, or manual labour. Modern pile drivers use small explosions in the chamber to raise the cylinder. At the top, the system contains mechanical energy stored as potential energy. As soon as the driver is released, the mechanical energy is converted to kinetic energy which drives the pile into the soil.
[edit] Hydraulic hammer
A hydraulic hammer is a modern type of piling hammer used in place of diesel and air hammers for driving steel pipe, precast concrete, and timber piles. Hydraulic hammers are more environmentally acceptable than the older, less efficient, hammers as they generate less noise and pollutants.[citation needed]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- History Trails: Ancient Crannogs from BBC's Mysterious Ancestors series
- Pile-driver Information on Gazzola's design
- Science & Society Picture Library Image of Valouè's design
- Leonardo da Vinci — Pile Driver Information at Italy's National Museum of Science and Technology
[edit] External links
- Vulcan pile driving equipment including history of the company and the machine
