TM 5-3810-307-10
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION.
General Description (Refer To Figure H-1.)
The Pile Driver System is a sectional tower framework that contains a single-cylinder, diesel
engine-driven impact hammer that pounds pilings (wood, steel H-beam, pre-cast concrete, or
sheet pilings), into the soil to create foundations for buildings, bridges, docks, seawalls, and
other structures required to maintain or support heavy loads. Standard pile lengths may be up
to 25-feet (7.6 m) long but the system is capable of driving up to 40-foot (12.2 m) long piles
without splicing.
The impact hammer drives the pilings by projecting a large steel mass (a "piston" or "ram")
upward through a cylinder until it free-falls back down, striking the top of the piling through a
drive system, there-by driving the piling into the ground. The AT422T All-Terrain Crane (ATEC)
is used to assemble, lift, position, stabilize, and operate the Pile Driver System.
The main Pile Driver System components include the lead tower, spotter, impact hammer,
remote throttle, and accessory components. The Pile Driver System, including the lead tower,
spotter, impact hammer, and all accessories, is housed in a reusable, weather-proof
shipping/storage container. The general weight of the lead tower, spotter, and impact hammer
is approximately 9,500 lbs (4,318 kg) (not including pile adapters). The weight of the
shipping/storage container with all components stored inside is approximately 19,500 lbs (8,864
kg).
Specifications for the Pile Driver System are provided in Tables H-1 through H-4 at the end of
this section.
Shipping/Storage Container
The shipping/storage container is a steel container used to house and transport the Pile Driver
System. It consists of a steel base, with forklift pockets, that is used to secure all the
components and a steel cover that is placed over the components and bolted to the base. A
wrench, stored in a bracket on the outside of the steel cover, can be used to remove the bolts
securing the steel cover to the base. Four lifting lugs are located on top of the steel cover and
1-1/4-inch (3.2 cm) shackles are permanently attached. Equipment tie-down straps prevent
shifting of the components. A spotter storage support rests on the lead tower sections and
provides a base for support of the spotter within the shipping/storage container.
Weight data is stenciled on the sides of the shipping/storage container.
Lead Tower (Refer To Figure H-1.)
The lead tower holds and allows vertical travel of the impact hammer, connected via four gibs
(or brackets), along rails on the front of the lead tower. The lead tower is a single column,
vertical travel (spud-type) style consisting of three identical 15-foot (4.6 m) sections joined
together by removable nuts and bolts. The total length of the fully assembled lead is 45 feet
(13.8 m) but expansion (60 feet (18.4 m)) is possible by adding one additional lead section.
The lead tower is attached to the top of the crane boom by two parallel boom adapter plates and
the lead head adapter that enable vertical suspension of the lead tower. The lead head adapter
is connected to the top of the lead tower by removable nuts and bolts and the boom adapter
plates are connected to the lower boom nose shaft by locking collars. The lead head adapter
and boom adapter plates are then bolted together. Weight, bolt storage location, and impact
hammer orientation data is stenciled on the sides of the lead head adapter.
A foot roller is attached to the bottom lead section to assist in raising and lowering the
assembled lead tower. A pile gate stop, installed in the foot roller, holds the pile gate in position
on the lead tower. Two wheels can be attached to shafts on the foot roller to create a rough-
terrain dolly.
Change 1 H-7
