FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a piling ram. In more particular, the present invention relates to a weight exchangeable piling ram that optionally permits weight of piling ram to be increased or decreased with simple and easy installation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A piling ram is a solid heavy block of metal used to drive piles into soil to provide foundation for buildings or other superstructures. The piling ram or rods connecting the piling ram to a piling machine assembly tend to fracture under massive impact or excessive workload. In these cases, the piling ram or the connecting rods have to be replaced and replacement of such parts can be rather complicated.

There are some patented technologies over the prior arts relating to pile driving hammers. Of interest is a U.S. Patent No. US 3245482 that disclosed a pile driving hammer comprising a plurality of metal weights and a plurality of stems disposed in the weights for connecting the metal weights. However, in times of broken stems, installation of new stems is relatively complicated. Moreover, any broken stem has to be wholly replaced, which is relatively costly.

In another U.S. Patent Publication No. US 3939922 (A), a hydraulic hammer assembly comprising a cylinder locked inside a massive ram within a housing is disclosed. However, the prior art did not suggest the capability of varying weight of the massive ram or connecting the ram to the housing with separately abutting connecting rods.

Due to massive impact generated during piling process, connecting rods have a high tendency to break or fracture. Therefore, it is highly desirable for the present invention to produce an innovative piling ram which simplifies the installation of connecting rods and piling rams with weight that can be varied.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a piling ram that has rams having weight which may be varied. Weight of the piling ram may be increased or reduced according to a desired weight by adding or reducing number of rams respectively. _^

Another object of the present invention is to provide a piling ram that is easy and simple to install when changing weight of the piling ram. Non-productive downtimes can be shorten and work can be resumed relatively fast. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a piling ram for use with an excavator or the like for accessibility to small or space limited construction areas, which are difficult or unsafe for normal pile driving vehicles to reach or operate.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a piling ram with low maintenance cost. Broken or fractured connecting parts can be replaced individually without having to replace one-piece connecting parts of conventional piling rams. Shorter connecting parts are relatively lower in cost as compared to the long one- piece connecting parts. At least one of the proceeding objects is met, in whole or in part, by the present invention, i which the preferred embodiment of the present invention describes a weight exchangeable piling ram comprising a base ram having a plurality of slots disposed on its top; a plurality of first elongated members, each has a first end engaged to individual slot and a second end readily connected to a manifold; optionally a supplementary ram, defining a plurality of longitudinally extending trough passages, disposed in between the base ram and the manifold by engaging to the second end of the first elongated member through a coupler accommodated within each trough passage adjacent to the bottom of the supplementary ram; and a plurality of second elongated members that each, possesses a first tip and a second tip, is inserted into individual trough passage to have the first tip fixed to the coupler and the second tip exposed at the top of the supplementary ram to readily connect to the manifold. One of the preferred embodiment of the present invention discloses that the second tip of each second elongated member is fixed with a retaining nut.

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention discloses that the first elongated members are externally threaded.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the second elongated members are externally threaded at the first tip and the second tip.

Another embodiment of the present invention is that the manifold comprises a coupling joint connected to a piston rod.

Still another embodiment of the present invention is that each trough passage is configured to receive the coupler, the second elongated member and the retaining nut. Yet another embodiment of the present invention discloses a weight exchangeable piling ram comprising a base ram having a plurality of slots disposed on its top; a plurality of first elongated members, each has a first end engaged to individual slot and a second end readily connected to a manifold; optionally one or more supplementary rams, each having a plurality of longitudinally extending trough passages, disposed in between the base ram and the manifold in a stacking manner by engaging to the second end of the first elongated member through a coupler accommodated within each trough passage adjacent to the bottom of each supplementary ram; and a plurality of second elongated members that each, possesses a first tip and a second tip, is inserted into individual trough passage of each supplementary ram to have the first tip fixed to the coupler and the second tip exposed at the top of the supplementary ram, wherein the uppermost supplementary ram readily connects to the manifold. The present preferred embodiments of the invention consists of novel features and a combination of parts hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the appended claims; it being understood that various changes in the details may be effected by those skilled in the arts but without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the invention, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawing the preferred embodiments from an inspection of which when considered in connection with the following description, the invention, its construction and operation and many of its advantages would be readily understood and appreciated. Figure 1 shows a cross sectional view of a piling ram having a base ram (101) and a supplementary ram (107) in accordance to the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows an exploded cross sectional view of the piling ram having a base ram (101) and a supplementary ram (107) in accordance to the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Figure 3 shows an exploded front view of the piling ram having a base ram (101) and a supplementary ram (107) in accordance to the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 4 shows a cross sectional view of a piling ram having a base ram (101) in accordance to the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 5 shows a cross sectional view of a first elongated member (105) in accordance to the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Figure 6 shows a cross sectional view of a second elongated member (113) in accordance to the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 7 shows a cross sectional view of a coupler (111) in accordance to the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 8 shows a top view of a top plate (201) in accordance to one of the - embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 9 shows a cross sectional view of the coupler (111) in accordance to the embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 10 shows an enlarged cross sectional view taken at A of Figure 1 in accordance to the embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 11 shows an exploded cross sectional view of Figure 10 in accordance to the embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the invention shall be described according to the preferred embodiments of the present invention and by referring to the accompanying description and drawings. However, it is to be understood that limiting the description to the preferred embodiments of the invention and to the drawings is merely to facilitate discussion of the present invention and it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications without departing from the scope of the appended claim.

The present invention relates to a piling ram. In more particular, the present invention relates to a weight exchangeable piling ram that optionally permits weight of piling ram to be increased or decreased with simple and easy installation. The piling ram is readily to be fixed to an excavator at its boom or a leader on a hoisting arm. The present invention can be used on a smaller sized vehicle than an actual huge piling vehicle so that it can manoeuvre in limited construction places while capable of carrying out piling tasks.

Referring to Figure 1, 2 and 3, the weight exchangeable piling ram comprising a base ram (101) having a plurality of slots (103) disposed on its top; a plurality of first elongated members (105), each has a first end (105a) engaged to individual slot (103) and a second end (105b) readily connected to a manifold (200); optionally a supplementary ram (107), defining a plurality of longitudinally extending trough passages (109), disposed in between the base ram (101) and the manifold (200) by engaging to the second end (105b) of the first elongated member (105) through a coupler (111) accommodated within each trough passage (109) adjacent to the bottom of the supplementary ram (107); and a plurality of second elongated members (113) that each, possesses a first tip (113a) and a second tip (113b), is inserted into individual trough passage (109) to have the first tip (113a) fixed to the coupler (111) and the second tip (113b) exposed at the top of the supplementary ram (107) to readily connect to the manifold (200).

Still referring to Figure 2, assembly of the piling ram having a supplementary ram (107) is preferred to be accomplished by a few steps as follows. Each first elongated member (105) is preferred to be screwed into each slot (103) of the base ram (101) at the first end (105a). Next, the coupler (111) is screwed to the first elongated member (105) at its second end (105b) and followed by placing the supplementary ram (107) above the base ram (101) in such a manner that the couplers (111) are engaged to the trough passages (109) of the supplementary ram (107). The retaining nut (115) is then preferred to be glued to the second tip (113b) of the second elongated member (113). The retaining nut (115) engaged second elongated member (113) is subsequently inserted to the trough passage (109) and its first tip (113a) is engaged to the coupler (111). Finally, the manifold (200) is mounted on the supplementary ram (107). The manifold (200) may include a plurality of washers, nuts, nut lockers, tie rods, screw buffer, bush, coupling joint or collars, which function to secure the remaining second tip (113b) of the second elongated member (113) and a coupling joint that is to be connected to a piston rod.

Referring to Figure 5, the first elongated member (105) comprising the first end (105a), the second end (105b) and a threaded outer surface. On the other hand, Figure 6 shows the second elongated member (113) having the first tip (113a) and the second tip (113b). Outer surface of the first tip (113a) and the second tip (113b) are threaded while having a smooth middle section between the tips. Figure 7 shows the coupler (111) having matching internal threads with the external threads of the first (105) and second (113) elongated members. The outer surface of the coupler (111) is smooth so that it may pass in the trough passage (109) as an easy sliding fit.

One of the preferred embodiment of the present invention discloses that the supplementary ram (107) is optionally provided to the base ram (101). One or more supplementary rams (107) may be provided between the base ram (101) and the manifold (200) according to a desired weight of piling ram. The base ram (101) may be of like or dissimilar weight with the supplementary rams (107). The base ram (101) and supplementary ram (107) may be in square or round shape, In another embodiment of the present invention, the first elongated member (105) and the second elongated member (113) may be changed for others of different length to accommodate the base ram (101) or the supplementary rams (107) of different length.

Yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention describes that the outer diameter of the coupler (111) and the retaining nut (115) are larger than the outer diameter of the second elongated member (113). The trough passages (109) of the supplementary ram (107) are configured to have larger diameter to fit in the coupler (111) and the retaining nut (115) while smaller diameter to fit in the second elongated member (113). The diameter of the trough passage (109) that fits the second elongated member (113) may otherwise be of the same diameter of the coupler (111) in order to avoid complication during fabrication of the supplementary ram (107).

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the retaining nut (115) is preferred to be fixed to the second tip (113b) of the second elongated member (113) in order to lock the second elongated member (113) in position in the trough passage (109). The second elongated member (113) may be milled with a flange, which has an extruded surface like the retaining nut (115), but manufacturing cost would be considerably high. Therefore, the retaining nut (115) is preferred to be glued to the second elongated member (113) to reduce the manufacturing cost. The retaining nut (115) is preferred to be glued to the second elongated member (113), leaving a length of threaded surface of the second tip (113b) for further connection with the manifold (200), before being assembled into the supplementary ram (107) from the top. Still another preferred embodiment of the present invention describes that the manifold (200) comprises the coupling joint to be connected to the piston rod. The piling ram is moved up and down by the piston rod which is connected by the manifold (200). In a further embodiment of the present invention, the piling ram is preferred to be provided with three first elongated members (105) are particularly arranged to be aligned with the matching second elongated members (113). The elongated members are preferred to be arranged where each elongated member is located at a corner of an imaginary triangle with equal sides within the circumference of the piling ram, that the centre of the imaginary triangle is aligned with the centre, of the piling ram. This arrangement helps to balance forces distributed to each of the elongated member. If one of the elongated members losses its grip, the forces will be equally distributed to the other two elongated members. Consequently, wear and tear of the elongated members can be substantially reduced. Similarly, three apertures (205) are configured on a top plate (201) as shown in Figure 8 and 9. The top plate (201) is one of the parts in the manifold (200) of which is disposed above the base ram (101) or the supplementary ram (107). Each aperture (205) permits the second tip (113b) of each second elongated member (113) to pass through. Upon placing the top plate (201), each second tip (113b) is further secured by a rubber gasket (207), a cover plate (209), a nut (213), a lock plate (211) and a plurality of screws (215) as shown in Figure 10 and Figure 11. Oh the other hand, a central aperture (203) is fitted to the coupling joint which is further connected to the piston rod. The elongated members are preferred to be in sufficient diameter to ensure high strength and rigidity during operation.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the piling ram may merely comprise the base ram (101) when less weight is desired. As shown in Figure 5, the piling ram has the base ram (101) connected to the manifold (200) by a plurality of first elongated member (105), preferably three first elongated members (105). Each first elongated member (105) is engaged to individual slot (103) at its first end (105a) and connected to the manifold (200) at its second end (105b). The manifold (200), as mentioned above, comprises a plurality of parts such as washers, nuts, nut lockers, tie rods, screw buffer, bush, coupling joint and cover plates, when assembled to the rams and elongated members. The coupling joint and piston rod are maintained under a constant stress with the manifold (200) pressing down continuously against top section of the base ram (101) or the uppermost supplementary ram (107) in manner of the parts of the manifold (200) to prevent the elongated members from vibrating and loosening during operation.

As set forth in the embodiments of the present invention, the piling ram, made up of a base ram (101) and optionally one or more supplementary rams (107), can be heavier than a normal one-piece piling ram yet will not fracture and gives a powerful blow to a pile on each drop. The elongated members supported by the coupler (111) for connecting the rams and manifold (200) will not easily break or fracture. Even if broken or fractured, replacement of the elongated members will have lower cost than a normal elongated member that is connected from top to bottom of the ram.

While the invention has been disclosed in connection with the preferred embodiments shown and described in detail, various modifications and improvements thereon will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the present invention is not to be limited by the foregoing examples, but is to be understood in the broadest sense allowable by law.