TM 5-3810-307-24-1-2
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION.
General Description (Refer To Figure K-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 K-1 through K-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 K-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 feet (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.
